At a time when the BJP-led NDA government is trying to get the Citizenship (Bill passed in the Parliament, Mizoram BJP president JV Hluna threatened to dissolve the party unit in the state if the Bill is passed.
Hluna said this while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday.
The Mizoram BJP also urged the churches of Mizoram to pray so that the Bill is not passed.
It may be mentioned that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was passed in the Lok Sabha, is yet to get Rajya Sabha nod.
Hluna extended a clear support towards the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill saying, “We give moral support to all NGOs and political parties of Mizoram including the churches which are protesting so that the Bill is not passed in the Parliament and that is our stand.”
Also read: Mizoram group writes to RS chairman over Citizenship Bill
Threatening that the BJP unit of Mizoram would be dissolved if the Citizenship Bill is passed, Hluna said, “We stand here and we are enrolled ourselves in a political party for the cause of Mizoram’s development and unity. If the Bill is harmful for the state of Mizoram, why should we remain.”
Stating that the Bill would safeguard the population of Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis who suffer from persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the state BJP president said, “As far as we know, in the past 40 years there is no Buddhist persecution or fear of persecution in Bangladesh.”
He further commented on the Chakmas in Bangladesh saying, “In Mizoram, we mostly fear Chakmas of Bangladesh who are majorly Buddhists. These Chakmas never face religious persecution. Only those who face religious persecution can enjoy this bill and so far such cases are not there.”
However, the Mizoram BJP president also claimed: “Politicians of Mizoram have spread false information by claiming that an influx of Chakmas would lead the Mizos to be a minority. The total population of Chakmas in the world is only 550,000; so, the calculation made by Rajya Sabha MP Ronald Sapa Tlau that the Chakmas are twice the population of Mizoram is false.”
The BJP Mizoram president also informed the media that he had met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister requesting them to omit Bangladesh from the Bill.
Surprisingly, after the press conference, the Mizoram BJP president made a completely contradictory statement saying: “The Bill is not dangerous for Mizoram. We have to examine very carefully. If there is no interest for Mizoram, why should we resign from the party? So far, the development plans and projects are in progress.”
Mizoram borders Bangladesh where the people’s anger have stirred with talks of influx of Chakmas from the neighboring country, even leading the people of Mizoram to fear cultural assimilation if the CAB 2016 is passed.