Political parties, students’ organisations and civil society groups in Assam continue to protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which was cleared by the Union Cabinet on December 4th, 2019.
#CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 started trending as one of the top India trends on Twitter with over 17,000 tweets till 11 am. The Bill is likely to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on December 10th, 2019.
The draft of the law approved by the Union Cabinet fast tracks Indian citizenship for six non-Muslim religious groups from our neighbouring countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“It is against the basic ideals of India and the basic structure of the Constitution. The Bill has been forcefully imposed on the people of Assam. We will not accept come what may,” said Akhil Gogoi, adviser of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS).
The peasant rights organisation on December 5th, 2019 staged protest against the Assam government in Dispur Last gate. In wake of statewide protests, security has been beefed up at strategic locations.
Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Bill is a “divisive policy” of Narendra Modi-led government in the Centre. On the other hand, All Assam Students’ Union and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chattra Parishad along with 30 other ethnic organisations said that they will continue to oppose the Bill.
It is said that the states under the regime of Inner Line Permit and sixth schedule tribal areas in the four northeastern states are exempted from the Bill.
Photo: @smitaranideka
