Mistake to support citizenship law, may withdraw support to BJP in Assam: AGP chief Prafulla Mahanta

Guwahati (Assam) [India], Dec 16 (ANI): It was a mistake on part of my party to support the citizenship law in both the Houses of Parliament, said former Assam Chief Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MLA Prafulla Kumar Mahanta on Monday.

Talking to ANI, Mahanta said: "It was a mistake to support the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when tabled in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for its passage as a Bill. Few leaders of AGP has supported the new law but we have been against this since 2015."

The former Chief Minister also said that if needed, his party will withdraw support from the Assam government. With 12 MLAs, the AGP has three ministers in the BJP led government in the State.

Mahanta said: "CAA is against the people of Assam. We are going to approach the Supreme Court and will also support the people who have filed petitions in the apex court against the CAA."

He further said: "The government should solve the current situation. The government can't stop the voices of Assamese through firing. Blocking the internet is not solving the problem."

"India is a secular country. No one is above the law and not above the Constitution. When the Constitution was adopted, it was said that India is a secular country," added Mahanta.