Kin of Assam Martyrs Protest Citizenship Bill, Return Mementos

Families of the martyrs of the Assam Accord returned the mementos in protest over the Citizenship Bill

Family members of Assam Movement martyrs return the state honours.

(Photo: IANS)

Families of the martyrs of the Assam Accord returned the mementos conferred by the state government in protest over the Citizenship Bill, on Wednesday, 31 January, according to PTI.

The martyrs were honoured with Rs 5 lakh and a memento each by the BJP-led Sarbananda Sonowal government on 10 December 2016.

The Swahid Parial Samannayrakhi Parishad (SPSP), an organisation of the families of Assam Agitation, gathered at the headquarters of the Assam Students' Union (AASU) that had spearheaded the movement, 'Saheed Niyas', to protest against the Bill.

Families of the 855 people who were awarded posthumously protested the contentious Bill and said their sacrifices will have no meaning if Hindu Bangladeshis are given citizenship in India, PTI reported.

“The Citizenship Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. It’s a matter of utter shame for all of us. If the Bill becomes an act, the sacrifices made by over 800 martyrs of Assam Agitation would become meaningless.” 

Rajen Deka, SPSP President 

The Assam Movement movement started in 1979 against illegal immigrants in the state. The six-year agitation concluded with the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985, which stated that all those who came from Bangladesh after 24 March 1971 should be deported, irrespective of their religion.

The Citizenship Bill seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and entered India before 31 December 2014, even if they do not possess any document.

Fearing threat to the existence of the indigenous people and their culture, a family member said, "These mementos given by the Assam government were once treasured possessions for us, as they were in recognition of our children, parents' and spouses' sacrifice. But now, after the Citizenship Bill, these are meaningless for us."