BJP ally begins campaign in Assam against Citizenship Bill

The Asom Gana Parishad, one of two allies of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam, on Saturday began a mass signature campaign against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill of 2016 that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims facing persecution in countries neighbouring India.

Various parties and NGOs have been protesting against the Bill since the 16-member Joint Parliamentary Committee began its hearing in Assam and Meghalaya on Monday. While the Meghalaya government opposed the Bill, its Assam counterpart said it would wait for the Supreme Court-monitored exercise to update the National Register of Citizens to be over by June 30 before reacting.

The BJP is a constituent of the government in both northeastern States. “We will organise the signature campaign across Assam till May 30. We are against the Bill that will threaten the existence of the indigenous peoples and will not hesitate to pull out of the government if the Bill is pushed through,” AGP president and Minister Atul Bora said.

Saturday also saw the members of the North East Students’ Organisation, with representatives of the eight northeastern States, staging a protest against the Bill in Guwahati.