Tue. Mar 19th, 2024
Asom Gana Parishad Leader Atul Bora

Asom Gana Parishad, (AGP), a regional party with roots in the anti-foreigner movement of the 1980s, and one of the two allies in BJP led government in Assam on Monday walked out out the alliance after the last few attempts to convince Union home minister Rajnath Singh to withdraw the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, which seeks to provide citizenship to non-muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan is expected to be tabled in Parliament on the last day of the current Winter Session. The bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to grant Indian nationality to people belonging to non-muslim minority communities  — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians — in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12, even if they don’t possess any proper document.

Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) had earlier reached out to Shiv Sena and JD(U) and sought their support in its movement against the Bill. In September last year, JD(U) chief and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had pledged his support to an AGP delegation,

However, the party has no Member in the Parliament and is hoping support from the twos other than CongressTrinamool CongressBiju Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party who is also expected to oppose when the Bill is re-introduced with changes recommended by Joint Parliamentary Committee. However, it was expected that Centre to table Citizenship Amendment Bill today: BJP allies JD(U) and Shiv Sena set to oppose the draft

AGP Chief Atul Bora who held a meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “We tried our best to oppose the bill. We had support from Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena and today when Assam is burning in protest against the bill, BJP has completely ignored the sentiments of the people of Assam. So there is no question of continuing in the alliance with BJP.”

Many Student Association, NGOs have staged protest across the state on Monday against the proposed bill.

Atul Bora, who is also the Agriculture Minister in BJP led Assam Government added, We told the home minister in clear terms that this bill violates the Assam Accord and people of Assam do not want it. The home minister replied that the bill in all likelihood will be placed in the Lok Sabha tomorrow,”

AGP has three ministers in the BJP led Assam government and all of them are expected to resign after his move.

However, there is absolutely no worry for BJP government in Assam who has 61 Members in the assembly of 126 Members. BJP another ally Bodo People’s Front has 12 members that make it to 73 members the BJP led alliance to have after AGP’s exit.

AGP with 14 members will now the join the opposition consisting of Congress, which has 25 members and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), whose strength is 13 in the state.

Earlier in last week, during addressing a rally in Silchar, Assam Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the Centre’s commitment to pass the Citizenship Amendment Bill. He said,  ‘Our government is also working to get the Citizen Amendment Bill passed in the Parliament‘.

By talharashid

Part-time Traveler| Full-time Political Enthusiast | Foodie | Strong Believer of Freedom of Speech and Expressions!

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