Citizenship Bill: AGP withdraws support to BJP in Assam, many groups observe ‘Black Day’

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Monday withdrew its support to ruling BJP in Assam over the Citizenship Amendment Bill, AGP president and minister Atul Bora said.

Many organisatios opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 observed a 'Black day' on Monday in protest against the move of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 to table its report to the Lok Sabha.

The Bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The decision followed an AGP delegation's meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, who asserted that the government will ensure its passage in Lok Sabha Tuesday, Bora said.

"We made a last ditch attempt today to convince the Centre not to pass the Bill. But Singh told us clearly that it will be passed in Lok Sabha tomorrow. After this, there is no question of remaining in the alliance," Bora said in New Delhi after meeting the home minister.

The announcement followed AGP leader and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's statement that the party would withdraw support to the government in the state if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in passed by Lok Sabha.

According to report in CNN News18, The party had vehemently opposed the bill and had threatened to break ties with the government if the bill is tabled.

“AGP has been opposing the bill even before the constitution of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) and by holding protests in New Delhi when the JPC meeting was underway. During JPC’s visit to Assam, AGP urged it to take the views of people residing across various places in the state. The JPC had then announced that it would visit Assam again. But, unfortunately, JPC has now taken a ‘U-turn’ by ignoring the public sentiment prevalent in the state,” AGP president Atul Bora said.

The bill seeks to amend Citizenship Act 1955 to grant Indian nationality to people from minority communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians — from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12 even if they don't possess any proper document.

The Bill has been opposed by a large section of people and organisations in the Northeast.

The Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI (M) and a few other parties have been steadfastly opposing the bill claiming that citizenship can't be given on the basis of religion and that it is unconstitutional.

Earlier on Sunday, Former Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma of the Congress urged political parties of the Northeastern region to snap their partnership with the BJP following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that the Citizenship Bill would be passed in the Parliament soon.

After 'Jinnah' comment, Himanta says Hindus will be minority in Assam if Citizenship Bill not passed

A day after stoking controversy with his "Jinnah's legacy" comment, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Monday said Hindus in the state will become minority within five years if the Citizenship Bill is not passed.

The senior BJP leader stood by his "Jinnah's legacy" remark which has sparked protest against him.

"I strongly believe that if this Bill is not passed, then Hindus in Assam will become minority in just next five years. That will be advantageous to those elements who want Assam to be another Kashmir and a part of the uncertain phase there," Sarma said.

Earlier on Sunday night, the senior Assam Minister commented that the state will go "Jinnah's way" if the Citizenship Bill is not passed and people are opposing it in a reactionary way with the intellectuals trying to build a wrong narrative.

"Without that Bill, we are surrendering to the philosophy of Jinnah. If those people are not there, the Sarbhog seat will go to Jinnah. Do we want that? This is a fight between Jinnah's legacy and India's legacy," Sarma had said.

Several indigenous organisations in the state have been opposing the Bill as they believe it would harm their cultural identity. All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) have described Sarma's comments as an attempt to polarise the Assamese society ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday asked the people to keep calm as the state government would never do anything to harm their interests.

Students across NE to observe 'bandh' on Tuesday against Citizenship Amendment Bill

Several students' bodies of the north-eastern region have decided to observe a "bandh" on Tuesday in support of the call given by an influential students' union to protest the proposed Citizens Amendment Bill, 2016.

The Mizo Zirlai Pawal (MZP), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and the All Assam Students Union (AASU) have extended their support to the 11-hour "bandh" called by the North East Students' Organisation (NESO).

The "bandh" has also been called to condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would be passed in Parliament soon, a NESO leader said.

"Despite staging various dharnas even in New Delhi by students' bodies from the north-east, the Centre is hell bent to pass the controversial bill, undermining the sentiments of the indigenous people of the region," NESO coordinator Pritambai Sonam told reporters at Itanagar on Sunday.

Demanding immediate scrapping of the bill, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said, "If the bill is passed, we will be left with no option but to take up arms to protect our indigenous population."

The NSF, in a press release, said as a constituent of the NESO, it had apprised the Centre of the detrimental effects of the bill, if it was passed in Parliament

With inputs from PTI