Skip to content Skip to navigation

Withdraw Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016

By AT News |

Appeal to withdraw the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

From: Dr. Kamal Kumar Tanti <kamaltanti@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 22, 2016 at 12:44 PM
Subject: Request for Withdrawal of proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016
To: jccab-lss@sansad.nic.in

To,

Satyapal Singh, MP
Chairman
Select Committee on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016
Lok Sabha Secretariat,
New Delhi

Subject: Views and Suggestions on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Sir,

As citizens of this country we register our deep anxiety and distress at the proposed amendment of the Citizenship Act under consideration of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament. Whatever humanitarian consideration prompted the proposed amendment granting citizenship to persons belonging to minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, it is going to be highly inimical to the indigenous people of Assam and to the federal structure of the state.

At the moment, based on Assam Accord, at the intervention of the Supreme Court of India and on the instruction of the Central government, the Government of Assam is engaged in intensive updating of the National Register for Citizens (NRC) to include people permanently residing in the state till 24th March 1971 and to treat them alone as genuine citizens of the country.

The present attempt of the Central Government to extend citizenship beyond the cutoff date of 24th March, 1971 is not acceptable to the people of Assam. The state of Assam is already overburdened with high influx of foreign nationals from Bangladesh, causing serious economic and social distress and identity crisis for the indigenous communities of Assam. Under these circumstances, the proposed amendment poses an existential threat to the existing indigenous communities. 

In view of the above, we request you to withdraw the proposed amendment, or at the very least to exempt the state of Assam from the purview of the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act.

Further, we request you to permit the people of Assam to submit their views in their own mother language in view of the fact that neither English nor Hindi is widely known among the indigenous communities of Assam.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Kamal Kumar Tanti.
Guwahati, Assam.

Comments

Rajib Bora's picture

Submitted by Rajib Bora on Tue, 08/05/2018 - 11:00
To The ChairmanJoint Parliamentary Comitteeon Citizenship (Amendment) Bill , 2016 Sub: Opposition of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill , 2016 Sir,As citizens of this country we register our deep anxiety and distress at the proposed amendment of the Citizenship Act under consideration of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament. Whatever humanitarian consideration prompted the proposed amendment granting citizenship to persons belonging to minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, it is going to be highly inimical to the indigenous people of Assam and to the federal structure of the state.  At the moment, based on Assam Accord, at the intervention of the Supreme Court of India and on the instruction of the Central government, the Government of Assam is engaged in intensive updating of the National Register for Citizens (NRC) to include people permanently residing in the state till 24th March 1971 and to treat them alone as genuine citizens of the country.  The present attempt of the Central Government to extend citizenship beyond the cutoff date of 24th March, 1971 is not acceptable to the people of Assam. The state of Assam is already overburdened with high influx of foreign nationals from Bangladesh, causing serious economic and social distress and identity crisis for the indigenous communities of Assam. Under these circumstances, the proposed amendment poses an existential threat to the existing indigenous communities.  In view of the above, I request you to withdraw the proposed amendment, or at the very least to exempt the state of Assam from the purview of the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act. Thanking you, Yours faithfullyRajib BoraDibrugarh, Assam - 3

Pages

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Zigzak Technologies to Launch Lifestyle App with Safety Features

DIMAPUR, September 13: Zigzak Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a rising technology start-up founded by filmmaker and tech enthusiast Mr. Lorence Kachari, is preparing to launch its flagship lifestyle application, Zigzak, next week. The company has described the initiative as a step towards transforming digital convenience in Nagaland, the North East and beyond. The application is designed to function as an all-in-one service platform, bringing together facilities such as food delivery, grocery shopping, rides, medicines, parcel services and home services on a single interface. The development of the app has been undertaken by a team of fifteen engineers and developers based in Hyderabad, under...

Indigenous Groups Condemn Police Atrocities, Demand Justice and Constitutional Safeguards

Indigenous leaders of Assam have strongly condemned what they described as "barbaric atrocities" by Assam Police on members of the Koch-Rajbanshi community at Golokganj in Dhubri district on September 10. They demanded an impartial judicial inquiry and strict action against the culprits, urging the state to ensure that such incidents are not repeated when communities raise their democratic rights. At the same press conference, the leaders also expressed outrage over the detention of Bhanu Tatak — a young activist and legal advisor of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum — at Delhi’s international airport on September 7. Tatak, who had been invited to Dublin City University in Ireland for...

Anubhuti & Emon present healing tribute to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika in Kolkata

Mumbai: The never-say-die soul of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika enjoyed yet another acme of glory when millions of people across the globe remembered him on his birth centenary on 8th September. From Assam and Kolkata to the capital Delhi, from India’s downtown Mumbai to Bengaluru, the Bard of Brahmaputra came alive with his songs and rhymes. On 8th September, renowned music therapist and performer Anubhuti Goswami, along with her husband and multi-instrumentalist Emon Goswami, presented a soulful tribute to the legend Dr. Bhupen Hazarika as part of the birth centenary celebrations in Kolkata. The duo performed at the Assam Bhawan, organized by the Kolkata Assamese Cultural Association,...

Clashes Erupt in Churachandpur Ahead of PM Modi’s Visit

Clashes broke out in Churachandpur district on Thursday evening, barely two days before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Manipur, throwing the administration into a state of heightened alert. The incident occurred near Peasonmun village, situated about five kilometres from the Churachandpur police station, when a group of unidentified persons allegedly attempted to damage decorations and arrangements being put up for the Prime Minister’s public engagement. Police personnel who rushed to the spot were confronted by the miscreants, following which a scuffle ensued. Reports indicate that several properties suffered damage during the course of the incident. While...

Lumding Honors Naga Woman T. Machapakla Ao, Founder of Assamese School; Plans Statue Installation Amid Assam Sahitya Sabha Criticism

A heartfelt felicitation ceremony was held in Lumding to honor Naga woman Mrs. T. Machapakla Ao, the visionary founder of the Assamese medium school in the town. The event, organized by the fortnightly publication Matir Manuh, celebrated her pivotal role in establishing the school in 1956—a milestone in Lumding’s educational history. Prominent speakers at the event included Rajkumar Baishya (Chief Editor, Matir Manuh), Deepak Mena (Executive President), Minati Sharma (Director Member), Prashant Hatimota (General Secretary), Sujata Sharma (Social Media Secretary), Anup Arandhara (Secretary, Mung-Dun-Chung Kham, Assam, NE India), Dr. T. Lima Jamir (President, Nagaland Indigenous People’s...

Assam’s Eviction Drive: When Democracy Becomes a Tool for Fear

In recent years, Assam has witnessed a series of eviction drives that have displaced thousands, predominantly targeting Muslims of East Bengali origin. These individuals, often referred to as 'Miyas', have faced allegations of being 'illegal immigrants' despite possessing valid Indian documentation. The state's actions have raised concerns about the underlying motives and the implications for democracy and human rights. Political Motive Behind Evictions Experts argue that these eviction drives are strategically timed ahead of elections to create a divisive narrative. The ruling BJP is accused of attempting to foster a Hindu-Muslim divide, with some local organizations already holding...

Karbi Leader Detained for Demanding Eviction of ‘Illegal Settlers’

In a move that has sparked anger and unease, police in Diphu have detained Karbi youth leader and social activist Lichong Rongphar for spearheading protests demanding eviction of alleged illegal settlers from VGR (Village Grazing Reserve) and PGR (Professional Grazing Reserve) lands in Karbi Anglong. The irony is stark: while Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government is carrying out aggressive eviction drives in the plains—Lakhimpur, Dhubri, Goalpara and Uriamghat—similar demands raised in Karbi Anglong are being met with police crackdowns instead of action. Rongphar had been leading a series of mass protests, insisting that Bengali and Bihari settlers occupying VGR and PGR...

Bhupen Hazarika’s Kuthori Residence Handed Over to Locals for Preservation

On the auspicious occasion of the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the Assam government has handed over the legendary singer’s neglected residence at Kuthori, Kaziranga, to local residents for preservation. For the past five years, the house—once vibrant with the maestro’s harmonium, tabla, and compositions—had fallen into disrepair, leaving fans and admirers disheartened. Although the government had acquired the property at a cost of ₹2.51 crore from Fatik Nyog five years ago, no concrete conservation efforts had been initiated since. Responding to repeated demands from villagers, the government announced today that the residence will be developed into a cultural...

USTM Pays Glowing Tribute to Dr. Bhupen Hazarika on 100th Birth Anniversary

The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika with a vibrant cultural programme at its Central Auditorium. Themed “Voice of Bhupen Hazarika: Voice of the People; Leading to a Harmonious Society,” the event featured visual presentations, floral tributes, and lively performances by students and faculty. Prasanta Rajguru, Editor-in-Chief of Prag News, delivered the keynote, highlighting five iconic songs of the maestro and their historical relevance. Actor Kamal Singh presented a special tribute performance, while dignitaries including Dr. Aparna Buzarbaruah graced the occasion. The celebration...

Pallas’s Cat Documented for the First Time in Arunachal Pradesh

In a landmark wildlife discovery, the elusive Pallas’s Cat has been documented for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh during an extensive high-altitude survey jointly conducted by the Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of Arunachal Pradesh and WWF-India. The survey, carried out between July and September 2024, involved 136 camera traps across 2,000 sq km of rugged terrain in Tawang and West Kameng districts. It not only produced the first photographic record of Pallas’s Cat in the state, but also revealed the presence of five other wild cats — snow leopard, common leopard, clouded leopard, leopard cat, and marbled cat — at elevations above 4,200 metres...