Guwahati: Writers, poets, critics, painters and cartoonists from across Assam on Sunday joined a protest against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

They gathered at Lakhiram Barua Sadan at Dighalipukhuri, talked about possible adverse impacts of the bill on Assam, sang songs to inspire people to oppose the bill, put up cartoons of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state BJP leaders on the bill issue and sang the state anthem O mor aponar dex. Holding placards with poems and songs written by eminent personalities of the state besides cartoons, they organised a protest march around Dighalipukhuri.

"We are opposing the bill because it is against the secular fabric of the country and the Constitution," said a critic.

The bill has led to a crisis in a state. If it is passed, Bangladeshi Hindus, who have been staying in Assam illegally, will get citizenship. It will endanger our language, culture and society," said Arindam Borkotoky, a critic.

Among others who participated in the protest were writers Debabrata Das, Arupa Patangia Kalita, Jayanta Madhab Bora and Ratna Bharali Talukdar, poets Anubhab Tulsi, Jiban Narah and Sameer Tanti, painters Kiran Sankar Rai and Nani Borpujari besides cartoonist Nituparna Rajbongshi.

Borpujari said: "I am confident that we will win. Assamese people are not weak."

Kalita described the bill as a move to divide people of Assam. "Assamese people have already come through much struggle. They cannot be cheated again," she said.

Tanti appealed to everyone to be united against the bill.

Narah said they would send memoranda to President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, governor Jagdish Mukhi, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the Joint Parliamentary Committee which has been seeking public opinion on the bill. The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, a peasants' rights group, and the AGP on Sunday organised signature campaigns against the bill in different parts of the state.