Apart from keeping the state on the boil, the Citizenship(Amendment) Bill, 2016 has started dividing BJP, the ruling party even after the exit of its coalition partner. Nearly a dozen of party MLAs is believed to have been preparing to stand united against the Bill if the party leadership fails to read the writings on the wall. Talking to www.assamtimes.org, a senior party leader in Delhi said only a handful of party MLAs along with the ministers are unlikely to maintain studied silence. Nearly 25 MLAs are likely to come up openly against the Bill to put the government in a fix. “The number of aggrieved BJP legislators is increasing on every passing day. These legislators, mostly, are weighing option. They would need a couple of days to strategize the curse of action once they quit the party or speak up openly against the controversial Bill,” he said.
One after another ruling party leaders and legislators have spoken up against the Bill that promises Indian citizenship to the non Muslim neighbors ; Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
BJP MLA Rhituparna Baruah has openly spoken up against the Bill saying that the spirit of the Assam Accord, 1985 should be retained untouched which is not possible if the Bill in question is passed in Parliament. “We did Assam agitation for 6 years from 1979 till the signing of the Accord to detect and deport the immigrants. How we should allow the immigrants to get citizenship? This Bill should not be approved,” said Baruah.
Baruah, who is known for his close association with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal further said,” I think the sedition charge against Dr Hiren Gohain is a deliberate attempt to defame the chief minister Sonowal. This should not happen.”
Hours before him, Sootea MLA Padma Hazarika who migrated from AGP 3 years back said at a meeting that he would be with the Assam Accord, 1985 and that anything contradictory to the historic document should be brushed aside. “I was one of the agitator. I know. I am stick to the Assam Accord only. I am very plain and simple,” said Hazarika. Last week assembly Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami also opposed the Bill and said it was a hasty decision which might be quite contrary to what the people want. The first one BJP MLA to oppose it was Atul Bora, who has been dead opposed to the idea since inception.
Party spokesman Mehdi Alam Bora and already resigned from the party before CK Das, a retired bureaucrat put in his papers as secretary.
14 Mar 2014 - 9:57am | AT News
The Opposition AGP is likely to field Joseph Toppo in Tezpur in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls slated for April 24.The move to field Toppo from Tezpur got momentum day after the sitting MP faxed his...
28 Feb 2010 - 12:14am | HemantaGogoi
The new central executive committee of All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU) headed by Chao Pranjal Rajkonwar as President and Chao Moyur Borgohain as General Secretary along with 31 executive members...
26 Nov 2014 - 6:29am | Abdul Gani
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Bonn in Germany have announced 2014 Lighthouse Activity Award jointly for Aaranyak and International Centre for Integrated...
6 May 2014 - 11:21am | AT News
A string of violence seems to have marred the statewide Assam bandh on Tuesday.Called by a number of non Bodo organizations in protest against the bloodbath in BTAD, the bandh evoked mixed response....
KOKRAJHAR, OCT 28: A significant awareness program was organized on Monday at Jalah Girls’ High School in Baksa district, focusing on child protection mechanisms, human trafficking, and the safety and empowerment of women and children.
The initiative was a joint effort by the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), the District Hub for Empowerment of Women (DHEW), the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), and the ICDS project, Jalah, under the Women and Child Development (WCD) department.
Dr. Lipika Barman, the District Child Protection Officer of Baksa (in-charge), presided over the event. Kalpana Das, CDPO of the ICDS Project, Jalah, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the...
Guwahati: The 8th Chalachitram National Film Festival – 2024 concluded at Jyoti Chitraban in Kahilipara, Guwahati, on October 27, celebrating diverse cinematic works. Jaswandha, directed by Shoneel Yallattikar, won the Best Film in the rest of India category, while A Sylvan Saga by Jyoti Prasad Das was awarded the Best Film in Northeast India. Das also took home the Best Director award, and Abhijit Nayak received the Best Screenplay award for Wrong Number, directed by Bijit Borgohain.
Awards for Best Cinematography went to Angsuman Barua & Pradip Ch Sarma for Aadi Shakti Maa Kamakhya and Chida Bora & Saril Nandan Deka for Teens of 1942 (directed by Samiran Deka). The Best Editing...
Guwahati, 25 October 2024 – Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Guwahati Off-Campus celebrated its 11th Convocation for the graduating class of 2024 at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre Auditorium, Guwahati. Distinguished guests included Chief Guest Prof. Gauri Dutt Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), TISS Chancellor Prof. D.P. Singh, and other dignitaries who gathered to commemorate the achievements of the graduates.
The ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp, accompanied by Saraswati Vandana. In his welcome address, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Shankar Das congratulated the 165 graduates—five Ph.D. scholars, 112 postgraduates, and...
Guwahati: The annual Chalachitram National Film Festival will begin on Saturday in Guwahati, Assam. This year's festival, themed "Our Heritage, Our Pride," will showcase 50 documentary and short feature films.
The two-day event, organized by Chalachitram, a subsidiary of Vishwa Samvad Kendra Assam, aims to foster nationalism through film and pay tribute to India's rich heritage. The festival will be inaugurated at Jyoti Chitraban premises in Kahilipara on October 26.
A variety of films from across India will be screened, covering topics such as land and people, tourism, arts, handicrafts, and social issues. The inaugural film will be "The Last Generation," directed by Prabal...
The prestigious Golok Samman for 2023 has been announced, honoring four distinguished young individuals for their exceptional contributions in the fields of art, translation, research, and environmental activism. The award, instituted by the UD Foundation in memory of the noted translator and social worker Golok Chandra Datta, celebrates those who have made significant cultural and social impacts in Assam.
This year’s recipients are Dr. Sanjeev Bora, a renowned artist; Avantika Parashar, a noted translator; Rajesh Dattabaruah, an environmental activist; and Dr. Baburam Saikia, a Sattriya dancer and researcher.
Recognizing Talent in Art and Visual Media
Dr. Sanjeev Bora has been...
Join Our Dedicated Volunteer Team!
Assam Times, a volunteer-run news platform established in 2007, is seeking talented individuals to join our team as English to Assamese volunteer translators.
Are you:
A native Assamese speaker with excellent fluency in written English?
Passionate about accurate and culturally sensitive translations?
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Translate a variety of news articles and content from English to Assamese, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
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Guwahati, September 18: Aaranyak, in partnership with the Namdapha Tiger Reserve Authority and supported by the Arcus Foundation, has initiated a groundbreaking Hoolock gibbon conservation education program in the fringe areas of Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
This initiative, which commenced on August 22, is the first of its kind in the state and aims to create a community of young conservationists who can actively contribute to the protection of this endangered primate. The program has reached 17 schools in the Miao subdivision, covering students from upper primary to higher secondary levels.
The sessions, conducted by the Primate Research and...
Diets rich in ultra-processed foods have long been associated with a myriad of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even premature death. However, the vast category of ultra-processed foods encompasses a wide range of products, from seemingly benign options like whole-grain bread and plant-based milk to more obvious culprits like hot dogs and sugary sodas.
A recent groundbreaking study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has shed new light on the specific types of ultra-processed foods that pose the greatest risk to heart health. This comprehensive study, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas, analyzed data...
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros and diverse ecosystems, is at a critical crossroads. Known for its rich biodiversity and the harmonious coexistence of local communities with nature, Kaziranga's landscape and social fabric are under threat. The Assam government's push to boost tourism by transferring land adjacent to the park to private hospitality industries has sparked significant controversy, raising concerns over the rights of indigenous communities and the ecological future of the region.
The Push for Luxury Tourism
Today marks a significant step in the Assam government's tourism agenda, with the signing of another...
The mid-20th century in America was a time when smoking was as normal and ubiquitous as eating. Picture this: in 1956, the average American smoked about 4,000 cigarettes a year. That’s a half-pack a day, for everyone—men, women, and even some children were all puffing away, encouraged by a relentless media, celebrities, and even health professionals. Fast forward to 2019, and while smoking rates have plummeted, a new health crisis has taken its place—our diet.
Today, the leading cause of death and disability in the United States is not smoking; it's what we eat. The Global Burden of Disease Study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, identifies poor diet as the #1 cause of...
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