As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to table the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader Tarun Gogoi slammed the Narendra Modi-led government for "ignoring people's sentiments and agitations" saying "to ignore the wishes of the people is not a democracy". He also urged the government to drop the Bill immediately in the greater interest of the people of Assam.

"If the government is adamant, ignoring people's sentiments and agitations, then they [ruling ones] are dictators, not democrats. Democracy means it should listen to the voices of the people; it should not impose their will or try to convince people. Yes, you form the majority in Parliament, you can get it passed [Citizenship (Amendment) Bill]. But to ignore the wishes of the people is not a democracy," Tarun Gogoi said.

"The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will definitely affect the culture, heritage of the people of Assam. With this bill, it (BJP) is encouraging people from Bangladesh to enter Assam and settle down. Assam is a problematic state with many problems," Tarun Gogoi said.

Tarun Gogoi further said that there is not enough land to settle more people in Assam. The state has already taken "extra burden" by signing the Assam Accord which renders a person foreigner if he/she came to the state after March 24, 1971, Tarun Gogoi said.

"Besides, there is no land, no jobs. Therefore, in such a situation, it [Citizenship (Amendment) Bill] not only affect the state culturally but also economically," Tarun Gogoi said.

Tarun Gogoi said, "The government should realise the matter. It must understand sentiments of the people of Assam and think twice or many times before take a final decision."

"According to me, in order to maintain peace and tranquillity and economic development in Assam, it [government] should drop the bill immediately," Tarun Gogoi said.

Taking a dig at Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Tarun Gogoi said, "The state government is scared to talk about the actual sentiment of the people to [Home Minister] Amit Shah or Narendra Modi. But the chief ministers of our neighbouring states -- Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh -- have guts to convey the feelings of their people."

Tarun Gogoi even said that if the bill is passed in Parliament, then the Congress will move to the Supreme Court against the bill.

"This is an unconstitutional bill. it is affecting very spirit of secularism, unity and integrity. It will divide Hindus and Muslims and violate the provisions of the Constitution," Tarun Gogoi said.