Gaurav Gogoi opposes Citizenship Amendment Bill, says its anti-Assam Accord

The highly controversial The Citizenship Amendment Bill should not be passed by Parliament, Congress lawmaker in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi said here on Thursday and maintained that the draft law is “unconstitutional” and seeks to violate the sanctity of the Assam Accord and the provisions of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“The sanctity of the Assam Accord should be upheld,”   Gogoi, who represents Kaliabor parliamentary seat in Assam, said during Zero Hour.
He said the Supreme Court has already expressed ‘unhappiness’ over the manner the government is delaying the effective implementation of the NRC provisions.
He said huge amount of money has been already spent in the initial exercise but still a large number of ‘genuine citizens’ are to get their names enrolled in the NRC.
In the light of emerging situations,   Gogoi suggested that the government should take adequate steps to ensure effective implementation of the NRC provisions in Assam.
The BJP-led NDA dispensation has been trying to push for the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha and reportedly reached out to parties like Samajwadi Party, BSP and also Trinamool Congress.
The BJP, which has 73 members in Rajya Sabha, has been apparently assured of support of 9 members from Biju Janata Dal, besides AIADMK (13), TRS (6), YSR Congress (2) and nominated (4) in favour of the Bill.
Several NDA partners have opposed the Bill and AGP in Assam has already walked out of the alliance.
Despite acrimonious relations with Trinamool, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his West Bengal visit told a gathering at Thakurnagar that even Mamata Banerjee’s outfit should support the contentious bill in the Upper House.
Trinamool has 13 members and Congress 50.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill, which has got the nod from Lok Sabha may be taken up in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passing next week – February 12 or 13.
In his January 31 address to the Joint Sitting of Parliament, President Ram Nath Kovind said categorically that those people who were ‘compelled’ to seek refuge in India cannot be blamed and clubbed with infiltrators since they were victims of circumstances.
“These people cannot be blamed since they were victims of circumstances,” said the Presidential address giving a clear indication of the NDA government was not at all willing to shelve The Citizenship Amendment Bill.