Several organisations in Assam have alleged that the ruling BJP is “misleading” the masses by giving contradictory statements on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, a tactic deployed to garner votes and help the party win the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) adviser Akhil Gogoi told The Telegraph, “We do not believe what Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju said because the BJP and the RSS are more committed to bringing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, than anybody else, if voted back to power.”
“Rijiju’s statement is a ploy to attract votes for him and his party in the Northeast, and is in complete contradiction to his party’s national president Amit Shah’s stand that the BJP is committed to bringing the bill back if voted to power, which he reiterated during a rally in Assam’s Lakhimpur town a few days back,” Akhil said. He appealed voters not to fall prey to the BJP’s “political hypocrisy” and asked them not to vote for the BJP.
Akhil said, “If the BJP wins the election, it will be dangerous for the existence of the indigenous communities of the Northeast.”
Lurin Jyoti Gogoi The Telegraph file picture
Addressing a news conference on Sunday Rijiju had said the amendment bill will never be introduced in the Northeast even if it was implemented in other states of the country. “The Centre did not introduce the citizenship amendment bill in Rajya Sabha respecting the interests of the people of the Northeast,” Rijiju added.
On the other hand, when Shah was asked whether the citizenship bill was withdrawn because of the negative feedback from the Northeast, he reportedly said, “Then why would we introduce it in the first place? We do not have a majority in Rajya Sabha. By 2020, we will have majority. We will also keep it in our manifesto. This is our commitment.”
All Assam Students’ Union general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi said, “The ruling party has a different stand for North India and Bengal and a different one for the Northeast.
“They want to sacrifice the culture, tradition, interests and political life of indigenous people for votes. They are playing vote bank politics in the entire country to achieve their primary target — polarise people in the name of religion,” Lurin alleged.
He said, “This is nothing but political hypocrisy by Rijiju to hoodwink the voters. Our stand is firm. We will not allow a single foreign immigrant in Assam after the cut-off date of 1971. Our constitution is secular and does not provide space for discrimination on the basis of religion,” Lurin said.
Asom Jatiyatavadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) general secretary Polash Changmai said, “The BJP is misleading the people of the Northeast and their dual stand is nothing but a desperate attempt to get votes.” Two days ago at an election rally in Upper Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had remained silent on the bill.