Torchlight rally against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

Torchlight rally against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

A Correspondent

Tezpur, May 15: Activists of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) Sonitpur chapter, in collaboration with several organizations like Tezpur Nagarik Suraksha Committee, Tezpur Youth Club, former ULFA members and senior citizens took out a torchlight procession in Tezpur town on Monday evening protesting against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Thousands of people spontaneously participated in the procession which started from Bhupen Hazarika Kala Bhumi and passed through the main thoroughfares of the town via Shyam Charan Road. It finally culminated at the Bhupen Hazarika Kala Bhumi. While talking to the media, Arup Talukdar, secretary of Tezpur AASU unit, said that the bill would definitely destroy the identity of the indigenous people of the State. “It is a threat to our State and region. We oppose the bill tooth and nail and the Centre should look into the matter immediately,” Talukdar said. They also alleged that it is a ploy of the Centre to destroy the identity of the greater Assamese society. They urged all to come forward to protest the Bill.

TINSUKIA: The Tinsukia District Journalists Association has vehemently opposed the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and sent a memorandum to the JPC through the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia on Tuesday. Strongly opposing granting Indian citizenship to persons belonging to minority communities, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the memo said that the proposed bill would be highly unfavourable to the interest of the native people of Assam and to the federal and demographic structure of the State.

The present attempt of the Central government to extend citizenship beyond the cut-off date of March 24, 1971 is not acceptable because the State of Assam is already overburdened with huge influx of foreign nationals from Bangladesh causing serious economic, social stress and identity crisis posing threat to the existence of indigenous communities of Assam, the memorandum added, requesting the JPC to withdraw the Bill.

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