GUWAHATI: Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Hitendra Nath Goswami on Wedneday commented that that the Central government seemed to be in a hurry to pass Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.
“I am touched by the incidents that have been taking place in the state in last few days over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. However, holding a constitutional position, I am duty bound to respect the responsibilities bestowed upon me,” Goswami said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“Legally, I have no scope of expressing my opinion as far as enacting a Bill is concerned. However, I believe that the Central government should take immediate steps to mitigate the ongoing situation in Assam arising out of passing the Bill in Lok Sabha without taking the people of Assam into confidence,” Goswami stated.
“As a neutral citizen, my conscience does not allow me to support any move that will ever go against the integrity and harmony of the indigenous people of Assam,” The Speaker said.
“ I sincerely believe that the state and central government will soon take a bold step on the basis of Assam Accord to secure the interests of indigenous people of the state,” he added.
Goswami was a former leader of the regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and joined the BJP before Assembly election of 2016 and won from Jorhat Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) as a BJP candidate.
Meanwhile, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) had on Monday quit the alliance with the BJP over the contentious constitutional amendment bill and the three AGP ministers on the state’s council of ministers are expected to tender their resignations anytime.
