The Janata Dal (United) North East Executive Council has decided to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 in its present form.
Condemning the decision of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for its decision to go ahead with the submission of the bill in Parliament on January 7, chairman of the JD(U) council Senchumo Lotha and general secretary of JDU, Afaque Ahmed Khan, in a release on Saturday, said the JPC report in its present form was haphazardly wrapped up despite strong opposition from almost all the stakeholders.
“The report is arbitrarily summed up rejecting all amendments moved by the different members and is therefore bereft of all rationality and does not intend to serve the interest of the indigenous people of Assam as well as the Northeast,” the release said.
Also read: JDU to oppose Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha
The release affirmed that the JDU will not support the Bill both inside and outside the Parliament and see to it that it be withdrawn for the benefit of the affected people. The party also said it would continue to uphold the decision taken during its national executive meeting in New Delhi on July 8, 2018, to oppose the bill.
The JDU said it would join hands with like-minded political parties and support organisations like the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), who are championing the cause in opposition of the bill.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Silchar in Assam on Friday, said the bill would be placed in Parliament and see to it that it is passed as well.
The AASU has called 11-hour Assam bandh from 5am to 4pm on January 8 to protest against the bill. The NESO also called Northeast bandh on the day opposing the bill.
