Except BJP, all parties in Assam opposed to Citizenship Amendment Bill

Samujjal Bhattacharya, Advisor, All Assam Students Union

How do you see the Bill?

Citizenship cannot be defined on the basis of religion. The Assam Accord was signed after the historic Assam Movement. The Accord said that those who have entered Assam after 1971 would be deported. Assam cannot take the load of illegal immigrants beyond the specified year of 1971.

Is the Centre playing a dubious role? This will mean the nullification of the NRC.

The Central government has a design to discard the Assam Accord by derailing the process of the NRC. The Bill is communal and unconstitutional.

Should the Assam government take steps like the neighbouring state of Meghalaya?

100 per cent seats should be reserved for the indigenous and land rights should also be given. Special constitutional rights for Northeastern states should be given. We believe the solution lies in the Assam Accord.

Atul Bora, President, Asom Gana Parishad, and state minister

What is your view on The Citizenship Amendment Bill?

Our Stand is very clear. We strongly oppose The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016. It will violate the Assam Accord and it will also violate the entire process of NRC updation. The people fought for six long years to detect and deport the illegal immigrants from Assam after which the Assam Accord was signed. The agitation saw the sacrifice and bloodshed of 855 People.

Should the BJP-led government oppose the Bill?

Yes, the government should oppose the bill.

Will you still continue the alliance with the BJP if they pass the Bill?

No, we will not continue with the alliance if The Citizenship Amendment Bill is passed.

Tarun Gogoi, former Chief Minister of Assam

What is your view of the Bill?

It violates the Assam Accord. It will upset the NRC too. It also violates the Preamble of the Constitution. It violates sections 14 and 15 of the Constitution. There cannot be any discrimination on the basis of religion, caste and creed. Religion cannot be a ground for it. The BJP introduced the Bill, it is their baby and so they will nurture it.

AGP has alleged that the Congress has different stands in the Barak and the Brahmaputra Valley.

What is your take on that?

AICC will ultimately take its decision and we are opposing it completely. Besides regional sentiments, it will also affect the culture, tradition and language of Assam.

Is the situation in Assam a rerun of the Assam Movement?

Yes, agitation is going on and there is spontaneous response from all sections of the people and it is similar to the Assam Movement.

Siladitya Dev, BJP MLA and spokesperson

What is your view on the Bill?

It was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Centre to help those victims of religious persecution in the neighbouring countries of India. The Bill will help them to get their citizenship.

What is your view on the Assam Accord?

The leaders of the Assam Accord bartered the lives of the Assamese People for the pursuit of personal motives. 1947 was the year of Partition and 1951 is the specified year for the deportation of immigrants for the entire nation. AASU and AGP robbed people of all their rights.

How do you see the state-wide protests?

People flooding the streets against The Citizenship Amendment Bill are the Bangladeshi Muslims who have not voted for the BJP. All the organisations leading the protest are Naxalites.

(The story was first carried in this week’s edition of NH on Sunday).