Guwahati: Congress Working Committee member and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday dared the ruling BJP to spell out its stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 as had been assured by the ruling dispensation after the wave of protest against the proposed legislation.

"I ask the chief minister and the ruling BJP to spell out their stand now that the draft NRC has been published. It was their assurance. The draft NRC is out, now they should spell out their stand," Gogoi said here in the afternoon.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had said in May, at the peak of protests against the bill which envisages granting citizenship to minorities who entered India from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan till 2014 December to flee persecution, that he would spell out the government's stand after the NRC update is completed.

Sonowal said, "People of the state should not to be apprehensive over the bill as the government will not indulge in anything against their interests." BJP leaders, on the other hand, have said that they will make public their stand after the final draft NRC which was published on Monday. The final draft saw names of 40.07 lakh of the total 3,29,91,384 applicants not figuring in the list.

Latching on to BJP promise, Gogoi dared the party to spell out its stand. The anti-bill brigade is opposed to the bill because it will go against the 1985 Assam Accord Bill which has fixed March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date for detection and deportation of foreigners illegally staying in Assam.

"We are sure the Centre would not have pushed the bill without the tacit support of the state government. They should spell out its stand now," Gogoi said.

Even KMSS adviser Akhil Goghoi had earlier asked the BJP to spell out its stand. BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass had reportedly responded by saying "Let the Joint Parliamentary Committee submit its report." The JPC, which visited Assam amid widespread protests, except in Barak Valley, has sought more time.