Protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 echoes in North-East

Twipra Students’ Federation foreshows 6 other NE States their would-be future if Bill gets passage

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) has foreshown the would-be plight of the six other States in the Northeast when it has said that even before the introduction of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 the indigenous people in Tripura has been reduced to second-class citizens with their population being 10 lakh against the total population of 40 lakh in the State.

Slogans demanding immediate cancellation of the Bill echoed in the entire Northeast on Friday when the NESO (North East Students’ Organization) staged protest against the Bill in all the State capitals in the region.

Staging protest against the Bill in Agartala, TSF adviser Upendra Debbarma said: “Even before the passage of the Citizenship Bill, we’ve been reduced to second class citizens in Tripura. Our population now is 10 lakh against the total population of 40 lakh in the State. If the Bill gets its passage, our identity in the State will be totally lost.”

The student bodies of all the seven States in the region said that the six other State governments in the region should follow the suit of Meghalaya Government that opted to side with the people of the State on the Bill. NESO president Samaul Jewra said: “Despite opposition to the Bill from all the States in the Northeast, the Centre is trying to introduce the Bill only to give shelter to foreigners. We’re going to stage protest in front the Parliament House during the Winter Session against the Bill.”

At a protest rally organized jointly by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) in Shillong, their leaders thanked the Meghalaya Government for taking the side of the people on the Bill.

At a similar protest at Kohima, NSF president Christopher said: “The Northeast is not a ground for dumping Bangladeshis. We won’t let the Bill to be introduced.”

Speaking at rally against the Bill at Imphal, All Manipuri Students’ Union (AMSU) president Charanthem said: “The Manipur government will have to take a stand in favour of the local people of the State on the Bill.”

At Itanagar All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union president Hawa Bagan said: “We can’t accept the Bill. All Bangladeshis and Chakmas have to be deported from Arunachal Pradesh.”

At Aizawl, Mizo Zilai Paul president L Ramdelayama Renthel said: “All the States of the region will have to protest together against the Bill.”

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