Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is meeting the chief ministers of Northeastern States soon over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that has triggered massive protest in the region.
The Home Minster will hold discussions with the NE CMs on protection of rights and people’s interests to assure the populace on apprehensions regarding the Bill that has been passed in Lok Sabha.
The Minister gave the assurance in separate meetings with different delegations headed by Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal last week.
“Rajnath Singh assured the delegations that the interests of all northeastern states, including Manipur and Assam, and their culture and heritage will be fully protected. He will call a meeting of all the Chief Ministers,” a Home Ministry statement said.
People from Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam have to streets especially after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in Lok Sabha.
The Bill aims to remove hurdles for eligible migrants of six minority groups from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan from getting Indian citizenship.
Biren Singh met Rajnath Singh on Saturday along with Manipur BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Ksh. Bhabananda Singh and submitted a memorandum to him for giving Presidential assent to Manipur People’s (Protection) Bill, 2018, passed by the Manipur Assembly on July 23, 2018.
Rajnath Singh told him that the ministry will examine the Bill which seeks to protect the interest of indigenous population of the state.
The proposed Citizenship Bill has triggered apprehension in the region that it will not be in the interest of the indigenous people of North-East. Various North-East parties have let it be known that once the Bill is implemented, the northeastern states could be flooded with a large number of illegal immigrants and foreigners from neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar and so on, as international borders are porous.
A delegation from Assam led by the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also met Rajnath Singh this weekend over the issue.
