Citizenship Bill: Activists of 70 organisations start fasting in Magh Bihu festival as nation celebrates Makar Sankranti
Guwahati, Jan 14 (IBNS): As the nation is celebrating Makar Sankranti festival, nearly 70 activists in Assam are currently fasting to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.
Assam farmer organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and 70 other organisations have started a 24-hour hunger strike across the state from Monday evening to protest against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, which is aimed to grant Indian citizenship to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The bill was passed in Lok Sabha recently.
In Guwahati, hundred activists of the organisations led by a peasant leader and an RTI activist started their fasting to protest against the bill.
Akhil Gogoi said people of the north east are now united against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.
“Today is Magh Bihu Uruka, but we are sitting here to protest against the bill,” Akhil Gogoi said.
“We are continuing our protests against the bill and demanded the government to scrap the bill immediately. Today, the people of the state will hoist Gamosas (Assamese scarf of honour) in front their houses against the bill. We will burn the copy of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in front of our Bhelaghar (a makeshift cottage constructed with bamboo, leaves and thatch),” Akhil Gogoi said.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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