MSPB chairman asks govt to convene spl session to oppose CAB

SHILLONG, JAN 9: Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) chairman Lambor Malngiang today asked the state government to convene a special session of the Assembly to oppose the “anti-tribal” Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha.

“I will shot a letter to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma requesting him to call for a one-day special session and in the form of a resolution we can stand united (as a House) and fight against this Bill,” Malngiang told reporters here on Wednesday.

Terming the decision of the Centre to pass the Bill as “anti-people” and “anti-tribal”, the Independent legislator from Nongkrem said the Bangladeshis are illegally coming here to encroach and this is a big threat to the indigenous people of the state.

He however expressed that there is little bit of hope that the members of the Rajya Sabha will also oppose the Bill and would ensure that such move to make it become a law is kept in abeyance.

Appreciating the stand of the chief minister, he said, “He (Conrad) has made it very clear that the MDA government is against the passing of this Bill so we will continue to support him through thick and thin.”

Asked on the growing demand to drop the BJP from the MDA government, Malngiang however said that he doesn’t see it necessary to drop the BJP MLAs from the government since they are also opposing the Bill.

“Let me tell you very clearly that the BJP minister was part of the cabinet resolution adopted to oppose this Bill so I don’t see it necessary to drop BJP MLAs,” he said.

On the recent suggestion made by the opposition Congress that regional political parties should break their ties with BJP partners especially the NPP, the independent legislator however said, “I would like to say the other way round that let us work together for the interest of our people let us leave aside the differences and move forward to ensure safety of our people.”

Rejecting the suggestion of the leader of opposition, he said, “but why will we rethink our support when the chief minister has done his best. He has made it very clear so what more do we want as he stands for the people and so are we and we strongly oppose this draconian bill.”

By Our Reporter