Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said the Centre will take the final call on its move to grant citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis only after the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) conducting hearings with stakeholders of the issue tables its report in the Parliament.
“But the Centre will take a decision on this issue only after the JPC tables its report in Parliament,” Rijiju told reporters here on Saturday.
The State has been witnessing a series of protests, strikes and demonstrations since the BJP-led government at the Centre issued a notification way back in 2015 to bring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to facilitate Hindu migrants from Bangladesh and other minorities from neighboring countries to take shelter in India and get citizenship on the grounds of religious persecution.
There have been fresh protests in the State since the JPC has reportedly cancelled its proposed visit to the State on security reasons.
Rijiju, however, said the Centre is committed to solve the vexed illegal foreigners’ issue in the State and will extend full cooperation to ensure publication of an error-free updated NRC.
Responding to questions that illegal migrants are trying hard to enroll their names in the NRC, Rijiju asserted that such mischievous attempts will be eventually thwarted since the NRC update is being done under the strict supervision of the Supreme Court.
On the recent proposal submitted to the Centre by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to introduce the system of giving work permits to citizens of neighboring Bangladesh, Rijiju said it is an interesting proposal.
“But we have to consider the pros and cons of the proposal before it being implemented,” he said.
