The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Sunday offered its support to the 12-hour Assam bandh called by several organisations on Monday and the 11-hour Northeast bandh by North East Students’ Organisation (Neso) on Tuesday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

KMSS adviser Akhil Gogoi also said it would intensity its protest. He said awakening of the Assamese people against CAB was spontaneous and more powerful this time.

Akhil observed that many organisations are yet to be united in the movement against the bill. He wished for a united movement by all organisations, including All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP).

KMSS was at the forefront of the 70 organisations which spearheaded an anti-bill movement earlier. However, the united forum of the 70 organisations was missing this time. AJYCP has been organising separate protests and held a news meet on Sunday here at the same time Akhil was addressing the media.

Akhil thanked college and university students for their spontaneous protest against CAB. He appealed to the people to carry on the protest. “Parliament may pass the bill but our message is that we will never accept it,” he said.

Junmoni Devi Khaund, whose organisation Juzaru — The Fighters — was among the 70 groups and was often seen during anti-bill protests earlier, said she would not protest this time. In a Facebook post, Khaund said for many people agitation was a business and she had seen many anti-bill agitators and their leaders supporting the BJP clandestinely. “I have lost faith in the agitation,” she said.

The Centre, too, invited AJYCP and student organisations of six communities for discussion with Union home minister Amit Shah on CAB, while it ignored the KMSS. Most of these groups were part of the 70 organisations.

The AJYCP also expressed its full support to the bandhs on Monday and Tuesday.

Assam State Jamiat Ulama on Sunday extended its support to the 11-hour Northeast bandh called by Neso.

In Itanagar, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) also announced its support to the bandh called by Neso.

AAPSU vice-president Meje Taku said, “Just because the BJP has numbers in Parliament doesn’t mean it can impose any bill which is against the interests of the Northeast. The region cannot be a ‘dumping ground’ for illegal immigrants.”

In Manipur, the Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill called a 50-hour shutdown from 1am on Monday.

On the other hand, the All Manipur Students’ Union, while endorsing the bandh call by Neso, called a 15-hour general strike in the state from 3am to 6pm on Tuesday.

Additional reporting by Damien Lepcha in Itanagar and Robert Sapam in Imphal