Opposing the bill providing for transfer of certain territories of Assam to Bangladesh, AGP today said this will start a "secession movement" in the state and not in the interest of the country.
"If the government is giving away land to Bangladesh then it should give some land to Pakistan also. They are not giving Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan but then why Assam? said AGP MP Kumar Deepak Das, talking to reporters outside Parliament.
"The Bill will start a secession movement. That is why we are opposing it and we will not let it introduce in Parliament," Das said.
His colleague Birendra Kumar Baishya said, "This is not an issue of Assam. This is an issue of the nation and sovereignty of the country."
Stating that the Bill is against the interest of Assam, he said, "They can not play politics with it. The Centre has signed a pact with Bangladesh which is not known to Assam people. So they are doing it for their political interest. This is not in the interest of Assam. Because we are losing huge area of Assam to Bangladesh, we are not supporting it."
Rajya Sabha today witnessed high drama when AGP member Das and Baishya tried to snatch a copy of the Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill, being moved by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, to ratify the exchange of enclaves agreement signed by India and Bangladesh.
The Upper House was adjourned amid the uproar over the issue.
The Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to give effect to the acquiring of territories by India and transfer of certain territories to Bangladesh in pursuance of the agreement between the two countries signed over a year ago.
