Axom Nagarik Samaj, a forum of prominent intellectuals, writers and journalists, on Monday has observed 'Dhikkar Divas' against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 at Dighalipukhuri.

Assam's leading public intellectual Hiren Gohain hoisted the black flag and started 'Dhikkar Divas'.

'BJP wants to encourage Bangladeshi Hindus to come to Assam. Assam has been at the receiving end of mistreatment from the central government for a very long time. The amendments to the Rules also violate secularism." –said Gohain.

The forum is against the bill that seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Christians, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

The forum is against the Centre's move, saying it would reduce the indigenous Assamese people into a linguistic minority.

"We are against providing citizenship to all post-1971 migrants, be it Hindus, Muslims or any other religion," Gohain added.