Citizenship bill is a threat to culture, identity of Assamese people: KMSS

DIBRUGARH: Hundreds of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) activists took to the streets in Dibrugarh on Monday to protest against the central government's proposal to reintroduce the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the upcoming session of the Parliament. The Akhil Gogoi-led KMSS had earlier called for a state-wide agitation following the announcement by state finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the Barak Valley that the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) will be tabled in winter session of Parliament.
Union home minister Amit Shah had also reiterated Sarma's statement while addressing the fourth conclave of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) in Guwahati.
"This is a time of great crisis for the people of Assam. People must unite against the bill. Other northeastern states have also strongly opposed it. The bill is a big threat to the culture, language and identity of the Assamese people. We cannot allow Assam to become a dumping ground of 1.5 crore Hindu Bangladeshis. It is a conspiracy by BJP and RSS to turn the Assamese community into a linguistic minority and make us politically weaker. Our agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will continue in every corner of the state," KMSS Dibrugarh district general secretary Sashi Sensowa said.
Members of the body lined up on both sides of Mancotta road in the Thana Chariali area of the town holding placards and banners demanding the government to not introduce the controversial bill. The agitating members also distributed leaflets among the public to create awareness about the 'dangerous consequences' of the bill.
Sensowa added, "We won't allow the Centre to impose the CAB in Assam. Assam will go the Tripura way if the Bill is passed. Already 20 lakh Hindu Bangladeshis have sneaked into the state. Bangladesh has 1.7 crore Hindu population as per their latest census. If all of them are given shelter in Assam, you can imagine the impact on the indigenous people of the state."