Three groups which have formed the North East Indigenous People’s Forum (NEIPF) Meghalaya chapter will observe a ‘black flag day’ on January 11 to oppose the Citizenship Bill, which has been passed in the Lok Sabha.
The NEIPF is led by Anup Chetia, the general secretary of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) pro-talk faction.
Three organisations, the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Hynñiewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) are part of the NEIPF Meghalaya chapter.
“We will open the NEIPF Meghalaya chapter soon and under this banner the ‘black flag day’ will be observed in Shillong against the Citizenship Amendment Bill on January 11 from 9 am to 3 pm,” FLJGP president, Wellbirth Rani, who is also the NEIPF convener, told reporters on Wednesday.
Effigies of the BJP and the Citizenship Amendment Bill would be burnt on that day.
Rani while terming the passing of the Bill a “political agenda” of the BJP, asked the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government not to make mere statement but should show action that it opposed the Bill.
Rani also demanded that the Meghalaya Assembly should hold a special session to discuss the issue and adopt a resolution to oppose the Bill.
It may be mentioned that Meghalaya cabinet had taken a decision on May 8 last year to officially oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
On this,Rani said that it was not enough and the MDA government should put more pressure on the BJP-led NDA government even by going to Delhi to protesting against the Bill.