Citizenship Bill: KMSS stage naked protest in Delhi

January 7: On last Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally at Silchar in Assam declared that his government is moving ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. He assured to pass this bill in the ongoing winter session of the Parliament. Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) marched nude on the road in New Delhi leading to Parliament and shouted slogans against the Centre’s move to table the Bill in the Parliament. Protesters took to the streets and raised “Bangladeshis, go back” slogans. The activists covered themselves in banners along the busy streets of Vijay Chowk.

KMSS advisor Akhil Gogoi said, “I salute these men to stage the highest form of protest in the democratic way. This is the time we stand united for the cause of our land and rights. This is time all of the people should come out to voice for their rights and the conspiracy against the BJP government.” He also said that the BJP government is trying to woo the Hindu Bengali voters with this bill. The protesters have been arrested by the Parliament Street police.

The Citizenship Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. It seeks to grant citizenship to people from minority communities – Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh after six years of residence in India instead of 12 even if they do not possess any proper document.The Bill has already been passed by the Union Cabinet on Monday and it will be going to be tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday.