Saikia urges BJP MLAs opposed to Citizenship Bill to resign

Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia Wednesday urged BJP MLAs opposed to Citizenship Amendment Bill to resign from the party.

The Congress leader asked BJP MLAs - Atul Bora, Binod Hazarika and Bimal Bora -, who had earlier voiced their opposition to the bill to quit the BJP and fight to ensure that the bill was not enacted.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP government at the Centre has ignored the sentiments of the Assamese and went ahead with the bill despite all round protest against it in the state," Saika said.

The bill has threatened the very existence and identity of the indigenous Assamese and "no right thinking individual who has interest of the people at heart can accept it," he added.

There are many in the BJP who are not supportive of the bill and they should come out of the party to ensure that the identity of the Assamese is protected, Saikia said.

"It is a fact that any right thinking individual and those who care for their land and people cannot remain in the party after the bill has been passed," the LoP said.

Atul Bora, who had joined the BJP from AGP, represents Dispur assembly constituency while Binod Hazarika and Bimal Bora represent Chabua and Tingkhong and the trio had spoken against the bill on separate occasions.

BJP spokesperson Mehdi Alam Bora had resigned from all posts of the party in protest against the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha Tuesday.

Bora had said that he was opposed to the Citizenship Amendment Bill as it will harm the Assamese, language, culture and completely nullify the Assam Accord, along with hurting the secular fabric of Assamese society.