GUWAHATI: A four-member delegation from Janata Dal (United) on Monday met leaders of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and All Assam Students Union and assured to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2016 in the Rajya Sabha.
Addressing reporters here on Monday, JD (U) secretary general and Rajya Sabha MP, KC Tyagi said, “We will continue to oppose the Bill from Sansad se Sadak (From Parliament to Street), as this Bill will change the demography of Assam and Northeast and hence not good for the region. We had opposed the contentious legislation in Lok Sabha and will continue to do the same in Rajya Sabha.”
An ally of BJP, JD (U) has six MPs in the Rajya Sabha.
“Congress had boycotted in Lok Sabha. However, as the biggest party, Congress should have walked done floor coordination with the parties opposing the Bill in Lok Sabha. There is an apprehension that if Congress walks out in Rajya Sabha, then this Bill will be passed. Hence, we appeal to the Congress to unite with the Opposition parties to vote against the Bill in Rajya Sabha,” Tyagi said.
JD (U) also said that its representatives would take part in the Northeast chief minister’s meet here on Tuesday.
The meeting, which will discuss the contentious legislation, will be attended by Meghalaya chief minister, Conrad K Sangma and Mizoram chief minister, Zoramthanga, among others.
AGP president, Atul Bora said, “We had a detailed discussion with the JD (U) leaders and they have assured was that they would continue to oppose the Bill. We will chalk out a strategy with the party in regard to our opposition against the Bill.”
Later, the JD (U) members also met AASU and representatives of NESO and assured support and solidarity towards the region-wide movement against the contentious legislation.
NH blockade
AASU chief adviser, Samujjal Bhattacharya, while condemning the attack on three detained AASU activists allegedly by BJP workers inside a prison in Nalbari district, announced that an hour-long National Highway blockade will be staged from 12noon on Tuesday.
“This is an act of barbarism and high-handedness which we would condemn and would like to warn the ruling party that this movement against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, would only get stronger in the days to come. We will ensure that the perpetrators of this act would be brought to book and would appeal to them to refrain from indulging in such acts in future,” Bhattacharya warned.
NESO chairman, Samuel Jyrwa said the ruling party was misusing power and indulging in such barbarism and high-handedness. “From NESO we strongly condemn this act and would appeal to the authorities to punish the attackers. Or else we would be compelled to believe that the attackers were acting in connivance with the police,” Jyrwa said.