Amit Shah to Pass Citizenship Bill at all Costs: Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary

New Delhi, December 1, 2019:

Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, Biswajit Daimary, while talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has resolved to pass the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, at any cost.

Daimary said that Shah has informed this to Northeast Indian delegates during a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. "Our stand is that, the Bill should not harm the interests of the indigenous people of the state of the Assam. The Home Minister has clarified our doubts, and northeastern people need not fear the Bill."

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Daimary further stated that according the Bill, the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution shall protect the rights of the indigenous people. The ILP shall protect the people in the Northeast Indian states, he said.

The BPF leader also informed mediapersons that before introducing the Bill in Parliament, Shah would first assure that the rights of the 'sons of the soil' would be protected. Daimary further stated that Shah had assured that the introduction of the Bill would not harm the culture and language of the indigenous people of the State.

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According to sources, Shah met the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, namely, Sarbananda Sonowal, Pema Khandu and Conrad Sangma respectively to discuss the Bill. He also met the the leaders of students’ unions and civil society groups of the three states on Saturday.

The consultative meeting that was held in New Delhi was aimed at discussing the construction of the controversial Bill at length.

However, Shah’s assurance to protect the States would mean that non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who would acquire citizenship under the new Bill, will not be allowed to settle in these areas. They would be able to settle in the other parts of the country.

It may be mentioned here that many organizations from the Northeast Indian states have been protesting against the Bill, which is expected to be tabled during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.

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