Citizenship Bill: Festival Of Feast To Be Marked With Fast In Assam

Many in Assam have decided to break an age-old tradition -- by fasting during Bhogali Bihu, the festival of feasting.

Several people including prominent RTI activist Akhil Gogoi are on a hunger strike from Monday opposing the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Gogoi, who has been vocal against the bill, along with other activists started his 24-hour hunger strike on Uruka or Bihu eve in Guwahati. The strike will continue till ‘Mejhi’ (traditional structure made with bamboo and straw which is burnt in the morning of Bihu) is burnt on the next day.

“Let’s not forget that the bill is on the verge of passing. We must continue this agitation till the bill is scrapped. I urge the people of the state that let’s observe Bihu this time in different way to make our voice even stronger against the bill,” said Gogoi, who is also the advisor of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), an influential peasant’s organisation.

Several other protesters are also staging hunger strike to mark their opposition.

“Let the people celebrate Bihu but we appeal to the people of Assam not to forget the main issue. We must not forget about opposing the bill. I will stage hunger strike at Sivasagar on the Uruka day. Some of members will do the same in different places across the state,” said Madhurjya Baruah, an advocate and general secretary of Axom Chatro Yuva Sanmilan.

Meanwhile, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), the BJP ally which recently broke the alliance, has also planned to start month long agitation across the state.

Popular Assam singer Zubeen Garg has written an open letter to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal over the bill. Garg, often known for his outspoken attitude and political statements, demanded the Chief Minister to return "the votes" obtained using the BJP election song sung by him in 2016.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and entered India before December 31, 2014, after six years of residence in the country, instead of the current 12 years, even if they do not possess any proper documents.