GUWAHATI: The major regional parties of North Eastern Region are falling like ninepins on their opposition to CAB, after Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) now it’s the turn of Conrad Sangma led Nationalist Peoples Party (NPP) which is openly supporting the Bill.
Tura MP Agatha Sangma from NPP, during the Parliamentary discussion on the Citizenship Bill extended her support for the bill.
Sangma said, "I am alone member of NPP from Tura and I rise here today to extend my support to this Amendment Bill."
Notably, it was Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who led a united front last time when it was passed by Lok Sabha and ultimately got it stalled in Upper House of Parliament.
Giving reasons for the support Mrs Sangma said that previously when the bill was placed no consultation was given to the state of Meghalaya, hence was unable to accept the bill because northeastern states concerns was not taken into consideration.
However this time all the concerns were taken care of the people of northeast. For instance, Arunachal, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram have all being exempted from the bill as they have the inner line permit system.
Meghalaya which for 97 per cent comes under 6th schedule area is also exempted along with Assam and Tripura.
"My only request to the Home Minister would be to exempt the entire northeast not only to the 6th schedule areas and inner line permit area," said Agatha Sangma.