Amidst the running controversy of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) again opposed bill on Monday. The regional party to arrange a massive protest rally against the bill on October 23.
Recently, in the state executive meet of Assam Pradesh BJP, the saffron party showed their immense support for pushing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, while promising to deport the infiltrators from Bangladesh has triggered a wave of resentment and anxiety about radicalisation of sub-nationalist elements in Assamese society.
AGP leaders addressing a meet on Monday said the bill is a threat to the identity of the indigenous people of the state.
While the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre is trying to push the bill, the AGP, a NEDA constituent and the BJP's alliance partner in the Assam government, is opposing it.
"The AGP is opposed to the bill since it violates the Assam Accord," AGP said.
He said the Assam Accord is the fruit of the six-year-old Assam Agitation in which 855 people became martyrs and this bill will frustrate the Accord.
AGP also made it clear that there should not be any division of illegal migrants on the basis of religion.
All illegal migrants irrespective of their religion who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971, shall be detected and deported from the state.
The AGP had earlier even threatened to pull out of the state government if the bill is passed in Parliament.
AGP leaders will meet the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) before October 23 to withdraw the bill.
