Mukut Mithi, the lone Rajya Sabha MP of Arunachal Pradesh has assured to register his strong opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 as and when it would be tabled at the Upper House.
The assurance from MP Mithi, who is a former chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, came after the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Tuesday wrote a letter to the former. The AAPSU in its letter expressed strong concerns against the contentious Bill.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
The Bill, which intends to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 and provide citizenship to those illegal migrants — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jain, Parsi or Christians — who have faced religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8 and is yet to get nod Rajya Sabha for its enactment.
“The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha despite serious opposition from the people of North East.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Like several other unions and organisations of the North East, the AAPSU under the aegis of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has been protesting against the Bill terming it unconstitutional, anti-tribal and anti north-east.
While drawing the attention of the MP towards the sensitive matter, AAPSU at the same time stressed for the urgent need to rollback the Bill and ensure its rejection in the Rajya Sabha.
“Arunachal Pradesh is already plagued by Chakma-Hajong refugee imbroglio since the past 50 years. There is every possibility that the refugees who are already settled in our state would try to take advantage of this Bill as the Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists and the Hajongs practice Hinduism,” the AAPSU said.
Meanwhile, MP Mithi besides paying heed to the demand of AAPSU’s has also to assured to pursue the concerns of the Union and the people of the State with other political parties and the Government of India.