ASSAM TIMES POST
Guwahati : RTI activist Akhil Gogoi-led Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Sunday announced to launch a series of agitation programmes against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (CAB) across Assam in coming days.
Addressing a press conference here, Gogoi said KMSS and its three other sister organisations will launch its agitation from Monday by visiting houses of people across the state to distribute leaflets and other “awareness documents” against the Bill.
“Our stand is very clear that protesting against the CAB is a fight for our identity. We will oppose it at any cost, even by shedding our blood,” Gogoi said.
On November 22, the organisation will hold a protest demonstration and submit a memorandum to the President and the Prime Minister “for the last time” through the Governor that “we will not accept the CAB at any cost”, he added.
“We will also work towards uniting all the political parties and organisations. The KMSS-led 70 groups and AASU-led 30 groups should unite against the CAB so that there are no conflicting programmes,” the peasant leader stressed.
He emphasised that there is no question of difference in ideology or political parties at this moment and anyone opposing the CAB should unite, he added.
“This Bill is unconstitutional and unparliamentary. This is against the people of the state. We all should come out and oppose it vehemently,” Gogoi appealed the public to join the agitation.
Meanwhile, the Left-Democratic Mancha, Assam will organise a sit-in-demonstration and procession on Monday in Guwahati to register their protest against the proposed controversial Bill.
The constituents of the Left-Democratic Mancha include CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), RCPI, Janata Dal (S), NCP, LDP, AAP and Asom Sangrami Mancha.
As per the Lok Sabha Bulletin Part-II on November 14, the tentative list of Government Legislative and Financial
Business for the Winter Session of Parliament includes the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 for introduction, consideration and passing.
“To amend the definition of illegal migrant, reduction in the number of years of residency period to obtain Indian Citizenship through naturalization and to empower Central Govt. to cancel the registration of Overseas Citizen of India card in case of any violations,” the Bulletin said.
Earlier, The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 but was not tabled in Rajya Sabha, seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India even if they do not possess any document.
