GUWAHATI: While there is extensive debate about the pros and cons of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 being passed in the Rajya Sabha, State Minister for PWD, Health and Finance, Government of Assam is clear that the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 helps Assam in the long run.
According to the Minister, the Citizenship Amendment Bill will allow BJP to retain 17 seats for the “Assamese people” for the next 10 years. Exclusively speaking to G Plus during an interview, Himanta cited the example of Sarbhog constituency of Assam. He said that excluding 10,000 Bengali-Hindu votes would mean that votes would be cast for the United Minorities Front (UMF) or the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). He also cited the example of Lumding, Jagiroad, North Abhayapuri, and South Abhayapuri, where he says BJP is on the verge of losing the important seats.
Sarma also expressed dissatisfaction on the fact that no Assamese person has become an MLA from Bhawanipur, after Surendra Nath Medhi. Also, BJP has lost the Naoboicha constituency, which at one point represented by Late Bhupen Hazarika.
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He added, "We are not allowing any new people in the state of Assam after December 2014. The Hindu-Bengali people who are here in Assam, they will continue to stay. We cannot send them to any other place in a train overnight. The only concession we are giving them is to vote. By giving them the concession, we are only trying to keep the 17 seats with us for the time being."
Himanta further said that with the implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord, BJP is seeking to make strengthen the position of the indigenous Assamese people.
Stating the benefit of the CAB, he further added that if tribal status is given to the 6 communities, it might help BJP get more seats in the assembly.
Watch the EXCLUSIVE interview with Himanta Biswa Sarma on the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016
