Dhubri, Jan. 11: Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) launched a 365-day sit-in today in support of their demands to cancel the notification that allows Bangladeshi and Pakistani citizens to stay in India without valid documents or even after expiry of their visas, total autonomy, introduction of inner-line permit and dual citizenship in Assam.

The organisation argued that allowing Bangladeshi and Pakistani citizens to stay in India would jeopardise the demographic situation of some states and Assam would be most affected by it.

"Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals staying in Assam without valid documents pose a great threat to indigenous people living in the state. Under no circumstances this big chunk of foreigners will be allowed to settle in Assam," said AJYCP state vice-president Hemen Chakraborty.

He said they want total autonomy because the state has no control over its resources, which are being exploited without the consent of the people, and if people have no political and economic rights then the socio-economic condition of the masses can never be improved.

"Inner-line permit is required, as is prevalent in some northeastern states. This will not only check foreigners from coming in but will also stop them from permanently settling here," Chakraborty said.

He said dual citizenship has been their long-pending demand. Dual citizenship is prevalent in some countries under the federal structure and is working well there, he said.

"The best workable system should be adopted with the changing times. A person living in Assam will be a citizen of Assam first and then a citizen of the country. There is no sense of separation as feared by a section of political leaders and intellectuals in the state and country as well," Chakraborty said.

The round-the-year sit-in will conclude on December 31 this year in Goalpara, where a massive meeting will be organised.