With huge support for the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Barak Valley, the two-day public hearing on the Bill conducted by the Joint Parliamentary Committee’s (JPC) in the Valley at the NIT, Silchar ended on Wednesday.
The public hearing process was started at 9 am which concluded at 12 at noon.
Talking to media after the completion of the hearing, JPC Chairman and BJP MP Dr Rajendra Agarwala said, “We listened to 157 organisations today. They submitted memorandums also.”
Also read: JPC conducts first day’s hearing on Citizenship Bill 2016 at Silchar
As per reports, 315 different organisations submitted their memorandums during the two-day public hearing in Silchar.
“The JPC will analyse the memorandums in the matter and later the Bill will be proposed in the Parliament of India,” JPC Chairman said.
A number of 157 different organisations from Cachar district took part in the public hearing on the Bill held at National Institutes of Technology, Silchar (NIT-Silchar) auditorium on Wednesday.
As per reports, most of the organisations favoured the implementation of the Bill in the JPC’s public hearing on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 while a less number of organisations opposed the Bill in the Barak valley.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), Manipuri Muslim Unnayan Sanstha (MMUS), Citizens’ Rights Preservation Forum, Praktan ULFA Aikya Mancha along with some other muslim organisations submitted memorandums in protest against the Citizenship Bill, 2016.
On the other hand, Sadou Bharat Uddasta Bangali Sanmilani, Sadau Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Union, Nagarikotta Suraksha Parishad, Vaxa Swahid Smarak Suraksha Samiti, Vabishya NGO, Barak Upatyaka Kaibarta Parishad, Apanjan Samiti, Silchar Mahila Unnayan Samiti, Advocate Forum of Justice along with other organisations supported by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) organisations favoured implementation of the Bill during the public hearing in Barak valley.
Silchar District Congress Committee, former Congress Minister Ajit Singh and Lakhipur Congress MLA Rajdeep Gowala refrained from commenting before the media on Wednesday.
Silchar MP Sushmita Dev maintained a stoic silence on the matter. She said, “I cannot comment on the issue on behalf of the Congress also.”
Further Sushmita Dev raised question regarding former Silchar MP Kabindra Purkayastha’s silence, “Why is he silent after being a member of Parliamentary Committee?”
Jorhat BJP MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa said, “The JPC is a strong committee. Every member of the committee has heavy responsibility. Nobody should mislead the people of the State in the matter. Nothing will be concealed about the JPC’s hearing. The situation has been created across the State as if the Parliament would pass the Bill tomorrow.”
Tasa further said, “The hearing was not referendum. One should analyse the facts before criticising and opposing the BJP and the BJP-led Central and Assam governments.”