JD(U) OPPOSSES THE CITIZENSHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2016 YESTERDAY IN NEW DELHI

8 July 2018:

The Janata Dal United, favouring simultaneous elections set a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. “The bill is a clear threat to indigenous languages and culture of Assam", said by JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar as set in the resolution. It is apprehended that if the bill becomes a law, the indigenous people of Assam will be reduced to a minority in their home state and their economic, social and cultural survival will be at stake.”

"We demand that the Government of India give serious consideration to all the contentious issues with regard to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and mitigate the concerns of the people of Assam," he added.

Underlining its opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the JD(U) resolution it cited that the apprehensions expressed by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) over the proposed measure and said they have a strong basis. "Any step which may jeopardise social peace and communal harmony of Assam and the whole North-East region, should be taken after serious consideration."

In a resolution passed at the party's national executive meeting, Nitish Kumar urged the Centre to work towards mitigating the people's concerns about the bill. Brought by the government in Parliament in 2016, the bill seeks to make Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan eligible for Indian citizenship after a stay of six years.

The JD(U) leader also said it has always favoured simultaneous polls, a proposal being backed strongly by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, as it will help curb the use of black money in an otherwise relentless election cycle in the country.