The Assam government’s bid to protect Assamese and other languages in the budget has failed to cut ice with the anti-citizenship bill brigade.

All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), two of the organisations at the forefront of the agitation against the bill, have slammed the BJP government’s budget as an “attempt to divert” the attention of the people from the proposed legislation.

“This is ridiculous. If the bill is passed, there is no point in promoting language. Our agitation will continue with the same intensity,” AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi said on Thursday.

During his budget speech, finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said students of classes IX and X had to opt for Assamese as a modern Indian language or as an elective, except in Sixth Schedule areas and the Barak Valley. He said it would help promote Assamese language.

“There is no holistic approach. Even last year, many announcements were made which are yet to be fulfilled. They need all the votes, from the six communities seeking ST status to the tea tribes. It is almost like an election manifesto. If they cared for the people of Assam, they wouldn’t have passed the bill in the Lok Sabha. Now they are trying to do so in the Rajya Sabha. We appeal to the people not to be misled. If Dispur cares about Assam, it should impress upon the Centre to get the bill scrapped,” Gogoi said.

He said the BJP’s target was to get the votes in Bengal and Odisha at the cost of Assam and the Northeast.

The Bhasha Gaurav Asoni was also announced which aims at protection and preservation of rights, language and cultural traditions of the indigenous people.

The budget also announced a research-based book on the Assam Agitation.

KMSS general secretary Dharjya Konwar termed it an election-oriented budget and said these schemes are an attempt to derail the ongoing movement against the bill. “If Assamese people become a minority in their own land, there will be no meaning in all these schemes,” he said.