Assam University Supports Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Our Correspondent

Silchar: A day after a torch rally was carried on by a section of the students in Assam University, Silchar, against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016; another massive demonstration in support of the Citizenship Bill was organized by the students last night. Students assembled in large numbers near the main gate of Assam University with placard in their hands and raising slogans. A large sized banner was put up near the main gate which read ‘We support Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.’ Students in large numbers raised slogans against ‘chauvinistic and parochial nationalism’.

Slogans were also raised paying rich tributes to the 11 language martyrs of May 19, 1961. The students pledged that they still remember the sacrifice of those 11 martyrs who laid down their lives for their mother tongue ‘Bangla’. On the placards were also written ‘We are proud to be an Indian and a Bengali’, ‘We are proud of our language’, ‘We denounce chauvinistic nationalism’, ‘Give up narrow mentality’ and so on. .Interestingly, all the placards were written in Bengali. Milon Das, former president of Assam University Students’ Union, criticized the activity of the students who raised anti Bill slogans on Wednesday night.

However on Thursday night, students, teachers and staff of Assam University assembled near the gate of Assam University and extended their full support to the Citizenship Bill. In fact, the incident of Wednesday wherein a section of students raised objection to the Bill led to a strong repercussion among the people of this valley. Many have opined that the university which has been established as a result of a series of struggle has failed to show respect to the language martyrs of this valley.

Also Read: Massive protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by Members of Nagaon Bar Association