“Today is truly a ‘black day’ for Assam in the Parliament”: Gaurav Gogoi

New Delhi, January 8, 2019:

Koliabor MP Gaurav Gogoi, along with several other MPs from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya has protested against the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 in theLok Sabh on Tuesday.

The Bill has proven to be problematic in many ways, with concerns being raised with how it is anti-constitutional as it makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship on the basis of religion. It is also dilutes the terms of the Assam Accord, signed in 1985 and would lead to a large influx of Bangladeshi illegal migrants into Assam.

Gogoi along with the protesting members raising slogans and carried placards that said: “Save Assam Accord”, “Stop Citizenship Bill 2016” and “Save Assam”.

Mallikarjun Kharge, on behalf of the Congress, opposed the Bill and demanded that it be referred to a Parliamentary Committee to ascertain its constitutionality. The leaders of the Congress walked out of the Parliament to make their displeasure felt.

Addressing the media, Gaurav Gogoi said, “Today is truly a ‘black day’ for Assam in the Parliament’, a sensitive issue like this is being manipulated by the current government to appease certain vote banks before the elections.