By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : The BJP-led Assam government has decided to take action against the government employees, who will not attend office during the Assam bandh called by 44 organisations of the state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 on October 23. According to the order, the state Government ordered that schools, colleges, courts and offices must function normally on Tuesday. Not only government offices, schools, colleges, courts but also businesses must function normally too or else trade license would be canceled. The government has also authorised the Police to arrest agitators immediately if they demonstrate in support of the strike in public places. Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police of each district will be in charge of monitoring if everything is functioning properly. Government of Assam plans to deploy a huge numbers of security forces during the 12-hour Assam bandh. If any property is damaged by the supporters of the Bandh then the cost of renovation would be recovered from the organisation. As expected, post puja Assam is bracing for Assamese- Bengali polarized politics in the coming days as 44 organisations jointly called for a 12 hour Assam bandh in protest against the Citizenship Bill. The call was announced by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) – Asom Jatiyadabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad(AJYCP)- All Assam minority Students union (AMMSU) and 39 other organizations. They were protesting against the BJP’s decision to go ahead with the Citizenship Bill. That is also the day when the AGP is holding a massive rally in Guwahati against the Citizenship Rally.Meanwhile This afternoon, the 46 organisations of the state have called a joint press conference in KMSS office ahead of their 12-hour Assam bandh on October 23. The call was announced by the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) – Asom Jatiyadabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad(AJYCP)- All Assam minority Students union (AAMSU) and 43 other organizations. The organizations have urged the people to cooperate the 12-hour Assam bandh against the Citizenship Bill. On the other hand, government has urged public not to support or encourage such bandhs else strict action to be taken. Addressing to media, Akhil Gogoi said that if any property is damaged by the supporters of the Bandh then the cost of renovation would be recovered by us. It will not be tolerated, if RSS and BJP try to speak against the picketing. It’s a matter of indigenous people of the land. They have no right speak about it. “The BJP government in Assam came to power promising to protect ‘Jati’, ‘Mati’, and ‘Bheti’ (community, land and foundation) of Assam. However, it has made a U-turn on its promises and is hatching a conspiracy against indigenous communities,” said Gogoi. It is due to JPC’s betrayal that a 12 hour Assam Bandh has been called in collaboration of 46 organisations. The bandh has been called so that BJP cannot raise the Amendment Bill at the Assembly – Gogoi added.