GUWAHATI: Pro-talks ULFA leader and chief convener of the newly-formed North East Indigenous People’s Forum, Anup Chetia has sought the intervention of the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind in regard to scrapping of the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
Speaking to reporters during a sit-in demonstration by the Forum against the proposed legislation at Raj Bhavan here on Friday, Chetia said a memorandum has been submitted to the President through the Assam Governor in this regard.
“We demand immediate scrapping of the proposed legislation which is a threat to the existence and identity of the people of Assam. We want the President’s intervention in this regard as there is growing region-wide opposition against the Bill and various organisations have made their submissions too before the joint parliamentary committee as well,” Chetia said.
The ULFA leader, who had taken part in the sit-in demonstration held by the Federation of Khasi-Jaintia Garo People (FKJGP) in Shillong during the JPC’s visit earlier this month, said Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal should take a bold step against the Bill like his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad K. Sangma.
“The Assam chief minister’s stance is weak as of now. There is apparently a disparity between his words and actions. He needs to take a bold step like the Meghalaya Cabinet, which decided not to support the proposed legislation ahead of the JPC’s visit to Shillong (on May 10),” he said.
Chetia further urged the ruling party leaders in Assam to do away with power-centric politics and instead put the state’s interests above anything else.
“Right now, we perceive that the leaders are dependent on Delhi and are toeing the line of the party high command,” he said.
The pro-talks ULFA leader also warned those leaders who were trying to divide the Assamese and Bengali-speaking people of Assam by making unwarranted statements.
“We oppose such a mindset and feel that the consequences of such attempts to divide the society will be grave and harmful,” Chetia said.