AASU seeks TDP's support to block Citizenship(Amendment) Bill

: A delegation of All Assam Students Union met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu here Monday, seeking the TDP's support to block the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The AASU delegation told the Chief Minister that they had launched a movement against the proposed Bill as it would jeopardise the interests of the people of northeast states.

The delegation comprised AASU President Dipanka Kumar Nath, general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi, chief advisor Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya and Gauhati University professors Basanta Deka and Shikar Sarma, a release from the Chief Minister's office said.

The members told the Chief Minister that the Centre tabled the Bill in Parliament and a joint parliamentary committee was later constituted to interact with various groups and individuals across the country.

"We opposed the Bill during the (JPC) hearing. The Bill will make the Assam Accord invalid in the clearest possible terms.

This should not be acceptable to any political party in the country which ratified the Assam Accord in Parliament in 1985," they added.

Promising support to the AASU movement, the Chief Minister said that the Centre should respect the sentiments of the people of Assam.

He assured them that the issue would be discussed with all stakeholders for appropriate action.