Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Monday expressed happiness on the Centre’s decision to exempt Mizoram and some other north-eastern states from the purview of CAB.
The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was was tabled in Parliament earlier on the day.
Addressing a meeting at Mizo Hnam Run (MNF office) in Aizawl, Zoramthanga said the people of Mizoram in general and political parties, NGOs and churches, in particular, had strongly opposed to the bill.
“It is fortunate that the collective efforts of the common people, political parties, NGOs and churches have yielded positive results, according to which Mizoram has been exempted from the ambit of the bill,” he said.
He said that his government is in great exultation over Mizoram being exempted from the purview of the bill.
Zoramthanga also said that he did not blame the proposed total shutdown on Tuesday called by state’s apex student body, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) under the aegis of North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) to show solidarity to the people of Northeast.
Amid protest, the contest Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who introduced the bill said the Congress “divided” the country on the basis of religion and that is why it was necessary to bring the bill.
The bill seeks to give protection to the inner line areas and scheduled areas of the Northeastern states.
The CM also said that he visited the national capital Delhi last week and met important leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Zoramthanga said that his government is planning to turn all suitable lands into wet rice cultivable lands.
He added that the state government also making massive effort to carry forwards its bamboo project and make the state self-sufficient in food grains and meat products.