BREAKING | People’s Movement wins, Citizenship (Amendment) Bill not tabled

Guwahati, February 13, 2019:

The indigenous people of Northeast India can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned indefinitely in view of the numerous controversies surrounding the session and ruckus created by the opposition parties. The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 was not tabled in the Upper House and chances are slim that it will be raised again. It had been listed in the 'Legislative Business' for today, where it was scheduled to be moved by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

With this announcement, it can be assumed that the administration in Delhi was finally compelled to hear the voices of the Northeastern people, many of whom have risen up in revolt. With all Northeastern leaders, including many allies, deserting the BJP over the issue, the ruling party decided (wisely) that the Bill was not worth losing all the alliances it has forged in the region.

Although it is too early to celebrate the demise of the Bill, this can be seen as a moral victory for the collective voices which rose in a crescendo to seek liberation from the shackles of the proposed Bill.