Forty-four organizations in Assam have called for a 12-hour statewide strike in Assam, scheduled to be observed on October 23, to register protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
The decision to organize the strike was taken at a meeting of 44 indigenous peoples’ organizations held in Guwahati on Saturday under the aegis of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP).
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill aims to provide citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who left Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to escape religious persecution. The was introduced in the Indian Parliament on July, 2016, by the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government .
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said: “The BJP Government in Assam assumed power by promising to protect ‘Jati’, Mati, and Bheti (community, land and foundation) of Assam. However, it has reneged on its promises and is hatching a conspiracy against indigenous communities.”
“The BJP Government in Assam wants to grant citizenship to the Bengali Hindus through the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The BJP constitutes a part of the Government in Meghalaya as well. Therein, the cabinet has decided to oppose the bill,” added Akhil Gogoi.
“We have decided to oppose the bill vehemently because it will affect the indigenous communities in Assam,” declared the KMSS leader.
