PTI, GUWAHATI: The Opposition Congress, the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) came together to protest against the citizenship bill in the Assam assembly on Monday, alleging the contentious issue found no mention in the Governor’s speech.
Amid demonstrations, the House was adjourned for 45 minutes. Soon after Governor Jagdish Mukhi ended his tribute to legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika for being conferred the Bharat Ratna, AGP president Atul Bora raised the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and said it found no mention in his speech.
Thereafter, the entire Opposition, including the Congress, the AIUDF and AGP MLAs shouted slogans and held up placards demanding scrapping of the bill. The AGP had recently snapped ties with the BJP over the controversial bill, which was passed in Lok Sabha on January 8. Noisy scenes prevailed on the opening day of the budget session, as the opposition members rushed to the well of the House, and showed the placards to the Governor as he read his speech.
Congress legislators also wore the traditional Assamese scarf of honour – ‘gamusa’ – around their necks. As the demonstrations continued, the House was adjourned by Speaker Hiten Goswami for 45 minutes. Later, talking to reporters outside the House, AGP president Atul Bora said the Governor’s speech had no mention of the bill, which “threatens the existence, language, culture, heritage” of the indigenous Assamese people.
The Congress’ Debabrata Saikia, also the leader of the Opposition in the House, alleged that the state government is trying to keep the people in the dark on the issue of the bill. “We did not protest when the Governor was paying tributes to Bhupen Hazarika. But, when he started speaking about the law and order situation and that peace, harmony and fraternity prevailed, we protested as the ground situation is different,” Saikia asserted.
