Amid the row surrounding the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) is now trying to mobilise nationwide support against the bill. The AASU leadership has met leaders of as many as 11 political parties, seeking their support to the campaign against the citizenship bill.
Incidentally, the AASU’s efforts have already started bearing fruits with Janata Dal (United) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Yadav extending his support to the AASU.
“We have started a nationwide campaign against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and have met leaders of as many as 11 national parties, including Congress, JD(U), TRS, TDP and Left parties, and sought their support to our campaign against the bill. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has, in fact, extended his support to our campaign,” AASU adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharjee said in Guwahati.
BREAKING : All #Assam Students' Union (AASU) mobilizes nationwide support against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, meets leaders of 11 political parties. #AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjee says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has extended his support to their campaign against the bill
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The AASU leadership said they are hopeful of exerting more pressure on the BJP-led central government so that the latter does not go ahead with the bill that proposes granting citizenship to minority communities facing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, including Bangladeshi Hindus.
“We have also sought an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the PMO is yet to provide us a date for the meeting,” the AASU leadership further said, and added that they hope Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will come up with a clearer stand rather than making diplomatic statements.
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The influential students’ body also said it will intensify its agitation against the bill in the coming days if the government goes ahead with the bill.
