The Forum against Citizenship Amendment Bill has urged masses to vote against the ruling BJP for pushing the bill.

Following the non-tabling of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the forum thanked the people of Assam and the Northeast for their supporting the organisations and political parties fighting against the bill.

The president of the forum, Hiren Gohain, in a news conference on Wednesday said, “It is the victory of the public. It is a temporary relief for us. It shall do more harm to our society if this government will come to power. So, we urge the people of Assam and the Northeast to vote against the ruling party. This will only solve the various issues, being created by the ruling BJP during their tenure throughout the country.”

“With the Rajya Sabha being adjourned sine die on the last day of the budget session, the last parliamentary session before the Lok Sabha polls, there is no chance for the BJP now to amend the citizenship act,” he added.

The forum with the 70 other organisations had met Congress president Rahul Gandhi on February 4 and sought his co-operation to stall the bill in the Upper House.

Rahul had assured that his party would oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

Convener of the forum, Manjit Mahanta said, “We want to thank all the political parties and students’ unions who opposed the bill from the beginning. Mostly, for the strong stand from the Congress, JDU and Shiv Sena against the bill in the Rajya Sabha, the ruling government unable to table the bill.”

The whole Northeast was united to scrap the bill and today (Wednesday) they have succeeded, he added.

Other members of the forum — Haidar Hussain, Udayaditya Bharali, Dinesh Baishya and Abdul Mannan and Deben Tamuli — were present in the news conference.