AS-BILL-CONGRESS

The opposition Congress

Thursday announced a series of programmes till January 31

across Assam to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment)

Bill.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Spokesperson

Rhituparna Konwar said the BJP-led state and central

governments are "imposing" the Bill, which will completely

nullify the Assam Accord of 1985.

"This Bill will endanger the very existence of

Assamese community. To protest this, we have decided to launch

our second series of agitation under 'Jagaao Asom, Bachaao

Asom' programme from January 21 to 31," Konwar said in a

statement.

As per the programme, all district and block Congress

units would light lamps and hold 'Sarba dharma' (all religion)

prayer in the evening of January 21 so that the BJP government

"gets its wisdom back".

On January 23, 'Sankalp Divas' will be organised

coinciding with birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra

Bose to get inspired by the secular ideology of the freedom

fighter to fight the communal Bill, Konwar said.

The following day, a five-hour sit-in will be held,

while human chains will be formed on January 30 across the

state, he added.

"On the last day, which is January 31, a two-hour

torch light procession will be taken out to protest against

the Bill.

The Congress has decided to strongly oppose any move

to pass the Bill," Konwar informed.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which was passed by

the Lok Sabha on January 8, provides for according Indian

citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and

Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six

years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the

norm currently, even if they do not possess any document

Massive protests broke out across the state and other

parts of North East after Prime Minister Narendra Modi

announced in Silchar on January 4 that the controversial

document would be passed as soon as possible in Parliament.

PTI TR

JM JM