Citizenship Bill opposition: AGP holds hunger strike; Cong organises sit-in protests

Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill continued in Assam on Thursday with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) holding a 10-hour hunger strike, while the Congress organised a 5-hour sit-in demonstration in all districts of the state.

Both the Congress and AGP, which recently snapped its ties with ruling BJP, said their protest will continue till the Bill is completely scrapped.

Extending his support to AGP's agitation, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) Adviser Akhil Gogoi said different movements across the state against the Citizenship Bill should unite to have the maximum impact on the government.

All the AGP MLAs and other senior leaders took part in the party's hunger strike in the state capital.

"The community is in danger and that is why we all have come out. The government should understand the public sentiment. If they do not understand, then they will be responsible for any untoward situation in North East," former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said while taking part in the protest.

Referring to BJP President Amit Shah's statement at a rally in Malda of West Bengal on Tuesday that all Bengali Hindu refugees will get citizenship once the Bill is passed, the senior AGP leader said such an announcement cannot be made "without government approval."
Taking part in the demonstration in Guwahati, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Ripun Bora said: "Our party has strongly opposed it. Because of our strategies, the Bill was not introduced in Rajya Sabha in last session. So, we got temporary relief."
He said "They (the government) plans to introduce it in Rajya Sabha during this Budget Session. Our national leaders are discussing how to oppose it. We will stop it at any cost."