Will North-East cry again as BJP promises to implement Citizenship (Amendment) Bill?

Guwahati, April 8, 2019:

The BJP party on Monday unveiled its election manifesto ahead of the General elections beginning on 11 April and reiterated its plan to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which led to mass protests in the North-East region. People from all corners of the seven sisters fought unitedly against the Bill which ultimately led to its lapse in Parliament. But two months on, the situation has turned grim once again.

Many would argue that the Bill is one of the most unpopular decisions the saffron party has taken in regards to the North-East as the people of the region protested against the Bill in every nook and cranny of the region. Many allies, including the NPP party in Meghalaya, even threatened to walk out of the NEDA alliance which currently lies in shambles ahead of the elections

It was thought for a moment that the united struggle of the North-East which led to Bill’s withdrawal would dissuade the party from ever implementing the Bill again, but it seems the party is ready to renew its assault on the indigenous people of the North-East.

In the election manifesto titled ‘Sankalpa Patra’ which was released on Monday, the party has once again highlighted its agenda of enacting the controversial Bill: “We are committed to the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Bill for the protection of individuals of religious minority communities from neighboring countries escaping persecution. We will make all efforts to clarify the issues to the sections of the population from the Northeastern states who have expressed apprehensions regarding the legislation. We reiterate our commitment to protect the linguistic, cultural and social identity of the people of North-East. Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs escaping persecution from India’s neighboring countries will be given citizenship in India.”

The BJP's position regarding the Bill remains adamant, so will it really be revived once again? And if so, will the Bill burn the North-East region yet again?