By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Assam BJP leaders on Friday said that the party’s stand regarding the subject of much-debated Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will remain same if the party once again comes back to power. The remarks came during a joint press meet of AGP and BJP at State BJP office in Guwahati. Addressing the press meet along with the leaders of AGP, Assam BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We have already made it clear that we will bring another CAB if voted to power. Our stand on the bill will remain same.” He also said that though there was objection from the AGP side on the CAB, it could be resolved through discussions after the elections are over. Meanwhile, AGP president during the press meet also said, “We might have different principles, but we have to resolve them through discussions.” He also said that the regional party once again wants Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister and a Congress-free India. Notably, AGP had ended the tie with BJP on January 7 over Centre’s move to pass the CAB in Lok Sabha.AGP president Atul Bora on Friday denied commenting on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill issue saying, “There is nothing new to tell about the issue, as Himanta Biswa has already spoken on the matter.”

Leaders of AGP and BJP were addressing a joint press conference at Assam BJP office in Hengrabari on their alliance for the coming Lok Sabha Election.AGP President Atul Bora said, We have come here following BJP’s invitation. There is nothing new in AGP-BJP alliance. Earlier, we were in alliance in 2001, 2009 and in 2016. We have identified the main enemy of the people of Assam. We might have different principles, but we have to resolve them through discussions. We once again want Narendra Modi as our Prime Minister. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday called a joint press meet and announced that a delegation of the BJP party along with its allies will fly to New Delhi to meet BJP President Amit Shah to discuss seat sharing. The biggest question relating to the AGP-BJP reunion is the parties’ disagreement over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The AGP party had broken off from the alliance in apparent protest against the BJP’s move to enact the Bill but after months of drama, the party is back where they initially were, in alliance with the BJP. This begs the question: what is the secret understanding that the two parties have reached? Himanta Biswa Sarma and even party President Amit Shah have declared the return of the Bill if the BJP is able to hang onto the throne at the Contre. Politics aside, how does the AGP expect to stay true to their ideology of ‘regionalism’ if the Bill is passed? On being questioned about the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned that the main motive of today’s meeting was the Lok Sabha elections. “We want that with the entire North East we are able to elect Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for the second time.”

Adding that there are lot many issues other than the Citizenship Bill, he said, “BJP’s stand for the Bill is fixed and AGP has not diluted their stand as well. We have already mentioned that through consensus and consultation we will bring out the required modification into the Bill. We will talk on something that grows the point of unity. Here, Narendra Modi is a point of unity for today’s meet. We will sit and discuss the Citizenship Bill after the Lok Sabha election.” Speaking about the future course of action to be taken with regards to the alliance, he said: “The initial discussion of AGP-BJP alliance was taken in presence of Ram Madhav and a delegation of both the party will fly to New Delhi to meet Amit Shah. On March 17, there will be a meeting with all the allies of the BJP party. We will organize a joint political meeting at all the 14 constituencies of Assam especially in places where AGP and BJP have a stronghold. AGP president Atul Bora and BJP state president Ranjit Dass will address the people in those constituencies. In Upper Assam- Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Kaliabor, Lakhimpur, and Tezpur, Gana Shakti president Paramananda Chayengia will join us. We will visit Mangaldoi, Kokrajhar, and Koliabor, where BTC Chief Hargrama Mohilary or MP Biswajit Daimary will join us. In Nagaon, Ramankanta Deuri and Tiwa community will be joining the meeting. And in Dhubri and Guwahati constituencies, Tangkeswar Rabha will join in.”