Eleven political parties from NE resolves to oppose citizenship bill

SHILLONG, JAN 29: Political parties in the North East region have unanimously decided to vehemently oppose the intention of the BJP-led NDA government to implement the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.

They have also resolved to soon meet the President of India Ram Nath Govind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter.

The decision was taken at the NE Region’s Political Parties’ Convention on the Citizenship Amendment Bill held at Vivanta Taj in Guwahati, Assam on Tuesday.

Leaders from as many as 11 political parties which include NPP, AGP, MNF, NPF, NDPP, UDP, PDF, HSPDP, KHNAM, JD(U) NEE and IPFT  attended the convention.

It was also held in the presence of Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma and Mizoram chief minister Zoram Thanga.

Highligting the resolutions adopted during the convention after the meeting, Sangma told mediapersons that the political parties of the NE region have unanimously agreed to jointly oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016.

“The convention has also decided that a delegation of all participating political parties along with other parties who have supported the cause would meet and apprise the President of India and Prime Minister in the next few days,” he said.

Earlier, a North East wide protest was also launched by the NESO, a conglomerate body of different social organisations from the NE region against the passing of the Bill, which seeks to provide citizenship to immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The Meghalaya chief minister said in the unfortunate scenario of the government of India failing to response to the call of the people and presses ahead with the bill, the convention has decided to continue its opposition to the bill.

Towards this, the convention has decided to meet again to chalk out the future course of action and the way forward, he informed.

Thanking all the political parties who have objected the bill and supported the cause inside and outside the parliament, Sangma said the convention has also decided to form a committee to reach to different parties across the country to support this cause.

Asked, Sangma said that the meeting was not in any way politically motivated but is coming out due to the sentiments of the people of the region.

“It is also the responsibility we as leaders of the region have towards our people which is to protect our people and our region…this is what motivated us to meet today,” he added.

Mizoram chief minister Zoram Thanga said the bill if implemented will be dangerous for the indigenous communities of the NE region even as he appealed to all like-minded political parties to oppose the bill.

By Our Reporter