GUWAHATI: Ten political parties of the northeastern region, including the current and former allies of BJP, along with the JD(U) have unanimously decided to oppose the citizenship amendment bill.
The parties came together for a meeting in Guwahati on January 29 to clarify their stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and to appeal to the Central government to scrap the legislation. At the meeting convened by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma and AGP president Atul Bora, the parties resolved to oppose the Bill together “in the interest of the people of the northeast”.
The northeast political parties that participated in the meeting are Asom Gana Parishad, National Peoples' Party, Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura, Naga Peoples Front, Mizo National Front, United Democratic Party, Hill State Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Democratic Front, National Democratic Progressive Party, and the Khnam.
As many as 25 leaders attended the meeting on January 29th, 2019 including Meghalaya CM and NPP President, Conrad Sangma, Atul Bora, AGP President, Keshab Mahanta, Working President of AGP, Mizoram CM Zoramthanga among others.
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“This meeting is the outcome of a natural process as we felt we must come together and oppose the Bill in one voice,” said NPP president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma.
He further added that the meeting was a natural process, considering the opposition of the northeast states to the bill and it's not politically motivated.
AGP President Atul Bora said that the meeting was "historic" as political parties have unanimously decided to oppose the bill and ensure that it is not passed in the Rajya Sabha.
The CAB, which seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan has led to fears in the Northeast about an influx of illegal immigrants to the region.
The bill has already been passed in Lok Sabha and is expected to come for voting in the Rajya Sabha in the Budget session beginning January 31.
The opposition parties, students’ bodies and the civil society across the Assam are protesting against the Bill, claiming it will nullify the historic 1985 Assam Accord and harm the demographics of the region. It may be mentioned that the BJP is trying to convince the constituents as the most of these political parties are constituent of the North Eastern Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
Also read: Families of Assam Agitation Martyrs’ Protest against Citizenship Bill by returning Honour