Guwahati, Jan 31 (IANS): Family members of the martyrs of the Assam Movement returned their mementos and citations given by the BJP-led Assam government in protest against the government's move to go ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

A total of 150 families of the martyrs of the Assam Movement on Wednesday returned the mementos and citations given to them by the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal-led government in 2016 through the deputy commissioner of the Kamrup district.

Similar programmes were also held in other districts to return the citations and mementos.

"The Bill is an insult to the martyrs of the Assam Movement and we are giving back the citations given to us by the government. The Accord was signed after the sacrifice of these martyrs. The historical Accord made it clear that March 24, 1971 is the cut off date for detection and deportation of the foreigners. But now the government is planning to bring in more foreigners through the Bill," said Rajen Deka, president of Sadou Asom Jatiya Swahid Parial Samannayrakhi Parishad, on Wednesday.

"There is no point keeping these citations and mementos when the government is not willing to value the supreme sacrifice made by the martyrs. So we are returning the mementos and citations now. If need be we are also going to return the Rs 5 lakh which was given to us," said Deka.

The State government on December 10, 2016 had organized a public meeting here and honoured the families of the 855 martyrs of the Assam Movement who had sacrificed their lives during the six-year-long movement. The next of kin of each of the martyrs' families was given a one time financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a memento.

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi while addressing the first day of the Budget session of the State Assembly on Monday said: "The Assam Government has recently proposed to pay Rs 2 lakh each to persons who suffered from bullet injuries, other serious injuries and rape victims of the Assam Movement."