Student body bars entry of CM Sarbananda Sonowal into Dibrugarh University

GUWAHATI: A student body has barred entry of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal into Dibrugarh University in protest against BJP led government not opposing Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

University unit of All Assam Students Union (Aasu) protested against the government's move of not opposing the bill. Sonowal was a student of Dibrugarh University.

The bill for making minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for applying for Indian citizenship is under the consideration of JPC of both the Houses. JPC recently visited Assam and Meghalaya.


Different organisations in Assam want the BJP led government to adopt Meghalaya like stand where Conard Sangma led Meghalaya democratic alliance which also has BJP in the coalition, has said no to the bill.

Akhil Gogoi-led peasant organiaation, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) has announced series of protest against the bill. The organisation has decided to protest during the BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Assam.

Shah will attend the meeting of BJP floated platform on non-congress parties, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) on May 20 in Guwahati.

Opposition Congress also organised a protest against the bill on Wednesday. There was division in Congress with leaders of Barak valley supporting the bill. AICC has intervened and it was decided that Congress will unitedly oppose the bill.

On Tuesday, AICC held a meeting with leaders from Assam regarding the bill in New Delhi. The meeting chaired by AICC general secretary in-charge for Assam, Dr C P Joshi was attended by the president of the state unit Ripun Bora, Debabrata Saikia, Lok Sabha MPs Gaurav Gogoi, Sushmita Dev, Kamalakhya Dev Purkayastha and Siddque Ahmed.