GUWAHATI: Forum Against Citizenship Act Amendment Bill (FACAAB), a group comprising senior intellectuals and leading citizens, has appealed to the people of Assam “not to vote for BJP in the Lok Sabha elections” and learn lessons from how the saffron party had gone against public will to impose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Addressing the media here on Wednesday, Forum chairman, Hiren Gohain minced no words when he said, “People of Assam should take lessons from how the ruling BJP has imposed the Bill on a secular democracy and therefore defeat the party in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP is a Fascist and intolerant party which has pushed the people to a state of anger, anxiety and restlessness.”
Referring to Scheduled Tribe status to six communities of the state, Gohain said, “Such welfare schemes, even as they have come abruptly and after four years, are bait thrown by BJP with an eye on the elections. Therefore, people should not be lured into the schemes and overlook the wellbeing of the country.”
The Forum welcomed the Asom Gana Parishad for finally discovering the “real identity of BJP” and breaking ties with it. “The party should now join the mass movement for protection of indigenous interests,” Gohain said.
He also thanked the Opposition members in Lok Sabha for opposing the Bill and thereby protecting the status of the Constitution and democracy.
“I wish the same is repeated in Rajya Sabha tomorrow. In fact, today we have made a request to the Rajya Sabha Speaker not to accept the Bill,” Gohain said.
The Forum chairman predicted that the movement will last longer than expected “because even if the Bill is not passed in Rajya Sabha, BJP would try to place it in the House if they come to power again.”
“The fight will go on and even if it is passed in Rajya Sabha, we will move the Supreme Court for which we will need funds. So everyone should chip in so that we can continue the fight,” Gohain said.
“We did not sacrifice the country’s betterment for the sake of our people because this Bill is harmful to Assam and its people as much as it violates the Constitution of India,” he added.
The forum categorically held the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) responsible for not delving into the most relevant issues before submitting its report.
“Firstly, the Bill goes against the Constitution’s secularism. Secondly, Assam will have to take the burden of post-1971 migrants. Thirdly, it ignored the opinion of the Union ministry of home affairs which stated that the Bill contradicts the Assam Accord.”