‘Unrest will mark NE if Bill not revoked’

NESO fires warning shot against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

GUWAHATI, May 12: The North East Students’ Organization (NESO) has fired a warning shot across New Delhi’s bow by issuing a threat that the Northeast will remain unrest if the Centre does not revoke the anti-indigenous Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The premier students’ union of the region staged protest at Dighalikuphuripar in Guwahati on Saturday against the Centre’s move to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The leaders of the students’ organization have taken a pledge – pledge of the seven sisters – that under no circumstances will they accept the anti-indigenous Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. They have made it clear that the Northeast is not a grazing ground for Bangladeshis.

Speaking at the protest rally, NESO president Samuel Jyrwa said: “Granting citizenship based on one’s religion is unconstitutional. Illegal foreigners are foreigners, regardless of Hindus or Muslims. Even when there’s no such Act allowing Bangladeshi Hindus Indian citizenship, the identity of the indigenous people of the Northeast is seriously under threat because of infiltration. One could guess what the situation in the region would be like if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed. In the event of the Bill getting its passage, languages, literatures and cultures of the indigenous people in the region will face extinction. Under no circumstances, we can accept the Bill.” NESO secretary general Sinam Prakash said: “Passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 will create unrest in the Northeast.”

Speaking on the occasion, NESO adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharjya said: “The Centre always resorts to political injustice and economic deprivation. New Delhi should know that there’s Northeast beyond Kolkata. We’re not going to shoulder the burden of any Bangladeshis who entered India after 1971.”