Silchar Daily丨 News 丨10 JANUARY
1. Modi says he’s committed to upholding Assamese identity
DAY AFTER The BJP in damage control mode over
Citizenship Bill
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured
everyone concerned that the Quotaand
Citizenship Bills wouldn't impinge on their rights in anyway. “I assure the
people of Assam and North-East that their rights will not be hurt after passage
of the Citizenship Bill" he said at a Function in Solapur. Maharashtra.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Bill that
seeks to allow Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh. Pakistan and
Afghanistan. The move set off protests in Assam and other states in the Northeast
and prompted the AGP to break ties with the BJP. The All Assam Students Union
(AASU). which was at the forefront of the Assam agitation against foreigners,
is leading the protest against the proposed amendment which, it says, violates
the Assam Accord which had promised to seek out and deport foreigners. regardless of religion. The Opposition
Congress says the Bill would create ethnic divisions not just in Assam but across the Northeast
and revive extremism.
On the Quota Bill, the PM said its smooth passage
was a “strong answer" by Parliament to those "spreading lies".
As the Rajya Sabha witnessed uproar over the Bill. Modi said the rights of the
deprived sections, including Dalits and tribals. would not be affected. He
called the Bill's passage in the Lok Sabha a "historic" step.
The Congress said It welcomed the decision to approve 10
per cent quota for economically
backward sections in general category but questioned its
timing, wondering why it had been brought just before the Lok Sabha polls. Speaking
in the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Anand Sharma said: “We are not opposing it.
But question is why it Is being brought all of a sudden. It Is the last session
(of Parliament)... then there are elections.” lie asked why the BJP hadn't brought
the Bill in four-and-half years but only after losing Five states in the
recently conducted Assembly polls.
"You (BJP) got a message that you were not on
the right path. Now. (general) elections are around the comer," Sharma said,
adding that the DIP was set
to low the 2019 elections You are going to get a
big message soon. The Bill has been brought by a government that Is already in
the departure lounge."He asked the government to clarify who exactly would
benefit if the 10 per cent quota came into force. Sharma said the Congress
supported the concept of reservation with an objective to extend thebenefits of
education, jobs to the deprived, backwards and weaker sections. He criticised
the government for not taking
all parties into confidence before bringing the Bill. “The tendency of this
government is disrespect Parliament and by pass legislative scrutiny while making laws
or constitutional amendments. I deplore it. It Is calculated, deliberate disrespect to the highest
institution of democracy." He said.
2. Govt prefers ‘Upper Caste’reservation bill to C’ship Bill in Rajya Sabha
NEW DELHI: After passing the Citizenship (Amendinent) Bill. 2016 in Lok Sabha government was supposed to table it in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday unfortunately it chose to place “10 per
cent upper caste’ reservation bill Highly placed
sources told that the ruling regime
entered into an agreement with premier opposition party Congress who has the upper hand
in Rajya Sabha. The session began at around 11 am and within a fraction of a second
the entire opposition reached the well of the house protesting government's
decision to table the citizenship bill.
The floor leaders of BJP, including Finance Minister Antn Jaitley met the
Congress leaders inside the chamber of Deputy Speaker Harivansh Narayan Singh. According
to sources. BJP entered into a deal with Congress and agreed to send the citizenship
bill into cold chamber
In return Congress assured the government of its support
for the upper caste reservation bill.Meanwhile. Union Tribal Affairs Minister
Jual Oram tabled the ST status bill for the six tribes and it was decided the members
will have eight hours to discuss this bill. But the situation changed and BJP’s
ally Shiv Sena also joined the bandwagon and stalled singing to the tune of Congress
against this biff This forced the government to enter into an understanding
with the main opposition Congress, sources said.
3. Protest against Citizenship Bill intensifies in Assam
THE AGITATORS HAVE SAID that they would not allow
locally produced oil, petroleum products, coal, forest products and limestone
to be taken out of the state
The widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 continued
to rock Assam on Wednesday as hundreds of people belonging to several groups took out a protest demonstration
in front of Assam
Secretariat at the state's Capital in Dispur.
Several took out a candle light march in Guwahati
in the evening while many other agitators blocked roads and marched with their
clothes off in other parts of the state during the day. In Guwahati. the protests in front
of the Assam Secretariat
turned little violent as the agitators tried to break the police barricades and
enter the complex. A few agitators were injured in scuffles with the security personnel.
In Guwahati. members of 70 organisations, led by Akhil
Gogol's Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP).
protested outside the central government
offices and also tried their way through the barricades to the state secretariat, leading
to a scuffle with police."Police had to resort to mild lathicharge and
fire rubber bullets to disperse the protesters who refused to move back despite
warnings. Some of them were also taken into custody to prevent deterioration in law and order situation.” a senior
officer said on Wednesday. Protestors burnt effigies
of the Prime Ministerand Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda SonowaJ at Digboi. Goalpara. Lakhimpur and
Barpeta against the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in lok Sabha. In
Golaghat’s Numaligarh area, members of Asom Aikya Manch took to the streets with their
clothes off to protest At Digboi in Tinsukia. the agitators tried to block a
highway to stop Chief Minister Sarbananda
Sonowal from attending
the Gorkha Mahatsov held for the Gorkha community. They were, however, dispersed by the
police.All
Assam Students Union (AASU) activists In Nagaon
district waved black (lags at Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) state unit president Ranjeet Das. The agitators have said that they
would not allow locally
produced oil. petroleum products, coal, forest products and
limestone to be taken out of the state.
4. Indefinite boycott of classes against Citizenship Bill
GUWAHATI: Students have joined the bandwagon of protestors against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. in Assam-with students of several colleges and universities announcing indefinite boycott of classes as mark of protest on Wednesday.
The students’ union of Cotton University has decided
to indefinitely boycott classes, till the Bill is scrapped. Similar decision
was also taken by the students’ union of Dibrugarh University.
The Pub Kamrup College Students' Union has also decided to boycott classes for an indefinite
period. While the students' union of Mai-gherita College and students have refrained from
attending classes. On the other hand, file students' union of Handkjue Girls College. Guwahati. has adopted
a resolution protesting the Bill. Students from Assam studying in various colleges under Delhi University'
and other varsities
in the national capital also staged a protest there on Wednesday
against the Bill.
5.PM, Union Ministers will not be allowed to enter Assam: KMSS
Obstructions
will be created in their every function. including political rallies for the
Lok Sabha polls. Gogoi said. “We will also not allow the Chief Minister and
other BJP MLAs to hold any meeting or official function in the state. We will
show black flags wherever they go.” he added. Flanked by other leaders of the
groups. Gogoi said that if the Rajya Sabha
passes the Bill on Wednesday, then a “civil disobedience movement” will begin
from Thursday. The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Citizenship(Amendment) Bill.
2019, which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus. Jains. Christians.
Sikhs. Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh. Pakistan and Afghanistan after six
years of residence in India instead of 12 years currently even If they do not
possess any document.Protests against the Bill intensified in different parts
of Assam on Wednesday with the effigies of Modi and Sonowal being burnt by the
agitators.A 'funeral procession’ of the government was staged and torchlight
marches were taken out by prominent citizens while some protesters even
gheraoed the state secretariat.
6. Sonowal, Sushmita & Himanta face AGP wrath in Sonai
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. 2016 has not only created a rift between Barak and Brahmaputra Valley but at the same time it has created a division between political parties. Following the passing of this bill. Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) has withdrawn its support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam.
On Wednesday, the Sonai chapter of AGP has taken
out a protest rally against this bill and trained their guns on Assam Chief
Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
state Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and Congress MP Sushmita
Dev by burning their effigies.The AGP workers have also lashed out at Prime Minister (PM) Modi. “The central government
is shedding crocodile tears for the Hindu Bengalis. They have
simply included the Christians, Buddhists. Jains and Parsis because they have tried to give it
a secular touch. In reality BJP is eyeing the Hindu votes for 2019 Lok Sabha
polls. It has divided the country on religious lines. We will protest this bill tooth
and nail,” said AGP leader Nur Mohammad Khan.
“Our leaders have already stated their stance on
this bill.broken the alliance. Sonowal has lost his moral ground to rule the
state. He must immediately step down and seek fresh mandate.” he added.
“It Is an Irony that the incumbent regime has chosen to
bury the constitution of India
which bars citizenship on religious lines. Still the
government has gone ahead with their communal agenda. The people of Assam will
never forgive them." rued Amirul Hussain.
The AGP leaders had aLso spilled venom on Dev
accusing her of betraying the voters of
Sonai. Hussain said that in the last lok Sabha polls Dev received an
overwhelming support from the minority community which helped her overcome the
Modi wave. “We really feel sad to say that the Congress MP has ditched us by
maintaining a stoic silence
on this sensitive issue in Parliament. History will never
forgive her.” said Hussain.
