From Our Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI: Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti advisor, Akhil Gogoi has condemned the Sarbananda Sonowal-led BJP government’s attempt to “thwart” a state-wide democratic agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, also attributing the recent development of youths reportedly joining ULFA (I), to the “anti-democratic stand” and “pro-foreigner stand” of the government.
As many as 70 indigenous organisations of the state have since November 11 staged the “Sankalpa Sikha Jatra”, a mass agitation involving bike rallies and campaigns, against the proposed Bill.
Addressing a media conference here on Wednesday, the KMSS leader slammed the state government as “undemocratic and fascist” for its attempt to hinder a “democratic and peaceful agitation” such as the “Sankalpa Sikha Jatra”.
“Such a policy of curbing a democratic movement such as this and the attempt to impose legislation such as the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, is in a way also responsible for our youths losing faith in the government and taking resort to militancy,” Gogoi said.
He further requested the authorities to permit the 70 organsations to go ahead with the “Dispur Gherao” programme on November 16. “From our part, we guarantee that it would be a “genuine, peaceful agitation,” Gogoi said.
The KMSS leader, while urging Guwahatians to join the agitation, said that the programme on November 16 would start at 11am at Ganesh Mandir ground (near MLA hostel) followed by a protest in front of Janata Bhawan in Dispur between 12 noon and 1pm and finally culminate at Last Gate (Dispur) by 2pm.
NESO protest
The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on Wednesday also announced that it would stage agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, in Guwahati on November 20 and across the Northeastern states on November 30.
Addressing a press meet, NESO advisor, Samujjal Bhattacharya appealed to the state ministers, MLAs and MPs of the Northeastern states to protest against the Bill.
Bhattacharya further stated that the “Northeast is not a dustbin for Bangladeshi nationals. Illegal influx from the neighbouring country over the decades has affected all states of the Northeast, to the extent of altering the demography of the region, a trend which political parties have not tried to stop.”