citizenship-ammendment-bill-2016
Representative image.

Sadou Asom Jatiya Swahid Parial Samannayrakhi Parishad has decided to return the citation awarded by Assam government to the families of martyrs of Assam Movement by January 31 this year protesting Citizenship Bill.

The organisation which represents the families of the 855 martyrs of the historic Assam Movement against illegal foreigners took the decision at a meeting held here on Thursday in protest against the decision of the BJP-led government at the Centre to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

“We have expressed our gratitude to bold steps taken by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and other organizations which have opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. However, we have decided to return the citation given to us by the Assam government on December 10, 2016,”said Parishad’s President Chandrakanta Talukdar on Thursday.

The Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led Assam government on December,10 2016 organised a public meeting at Guwahati and honoured the members of the families of 855 martyrs of Assam Movement who had sacrificed their lives during the six-year-long agitation.

The government had given a Maan Patra (citation) and Rs 5 lakh to each of the families of the 855 martyrs—recognising the contribution of the martyrs for the first time.

“We also condemn the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had assured to deport the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants but now welcoming them by passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016,”Talukder said and also appealed the BJP-led Assam government to stop  playing politics with the martyrs families.