AGARTALA, Feb 5 (TIWN): Ahead of Lok Sabha election, Modi Govt’s controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 has turned heavy on party image just like pushing CBI in Mamata regime at Bengal turned heavy on CBI and Central Govt both. Whole Northeast has been fueling against Modi Govt for this controversial bill’s placing just few months ahead of the Lok Sabha election. Except BJP, all the political parties have protested against the bill and there will be more protests in the coming days by regional parties as well as other parties. On Monday, massive protest was staged against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 at Agartala organized by CPI-M, whereas Sabroom subdivision also similar protest was staged. State Congress on Monday has also opposed the bill and the State Party President Birjit Sinha said, in coming days there will be protest against the bill. Amid all these, however PM Modi to visit Northeast on February 8 and February 9 whereas in Tripura Modi to address on February 9.

Tripura former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar while addressing in a protest rally of CPI-M organized against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 at Agartala Rabindra Bhawan premise on Monday afternoon told BJP “Don’t think people are fool. You can confuse them for a moment and for few times divert their attention, but not all the time”. 

Until the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is withdrawn, protests against it will intensify, especially in the Northeast, former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said on Monday.

Sarkar was addressing a protest rally against the Bill here and said if it became an Act, it would destroy the fundamental facet of the Indian Constitution.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party government was determined to make the Bill a law for its narrow political interests despite widespread protests. 

The Bill seeks to grant citizenship to migrants from six non-Muslim minority groups from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. If it becomes law, "outsiders" could overwhelm the locals in the northeast, political parties say.

Sarkar, who was Chief Minister for 20 years since 1998, said: "The British once divided the country. Fresh attempts are being made to further divide the nation by destroying the secular fabric of the Constitution...

"Numerous ethnic, religion and linguistic groups, tribals and non-tribals are living in harmony in the Northeast. 

"Peace has been established in the Northeast after taming decades of terrorism. BJP leaders are fuelling the fire for their political and electoral gains," the Marxist leader added.