KMSS Protest Naked In Delhi Against Citizenship Bill

The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and several other organisations of Assam on Monday stripped naked and staged protest in New Delhi against Centre’s move to table the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Protesters took to the streets and raised “Bangladeshis, go back” slogans.

The prime minister had announced at a rally at Silchar in Assam on Friday that the government is moving ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

KMSS advisor Akhil Gogoi said “it’s time people come out and raise voice for their rights.”

“I salute these men to stage the highest form of protest in the democratic way. This is the time we stand united for the cause of our land and rights. This is time all of the people should come out to voice for their rights and the conspiracy against the BJP government (sic),” Gogoi said.

He also said that the BJP government is trying to woo the Hindu Bengali voters with this bill.

North East Students’ Organization (NESO), the umbrella body of all major students’ bodies of the northeast, has also called for an 11-hour strike on January 8 to stage their opposition against the bill.

On Sunday, the KMSS and other organisations took out protest rallies across Assam and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

According to Assam Accord, anyone who has come here after March 25 of 1971 is illegal, irrespective of their religion, caste and creed.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. It seeks to grant citizenship to people from minority communities - Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh after six years of residence in India instead of 12 even if they do not possess any proper document.

The Bill has been opposed by a large section of people and organisations in the Northeast.