Cong. demands Arunachal govt. to adopt resolution against Bill

Itanagar, Jan. 11 (PTI): The Congress in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday demanded that the BJP government in the state adopt a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, as has been done by the Meghalaya government.

The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government, comprising the BJP, Friday passed a resolution to oppose the Bill, as the saffron party leadership in the state asserted that they were with the indigenous people on the controversial legislation.

Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President Takam Sanjoy asked, “Why the BJP led state government in Arunachal headed by Pema Khandu has remained a mute spectator?”

The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014.

“This Bill will make this tribal sate, protected by Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, a dumping ground of refugees and illegal migrants making the indigenous population minority,” Sanjoy said and urged Khandu to take a clear stand on the Bill.

He alleged that the Bill was brought in to appease voters on the basis of community and religion, and described it as unconstitutional.

“The Bill was passed to appease voters on the basis of community and religion and to spread hatred, communalism and chaos across the country, particularly in the North East India,” Sanjoy told a press conference here.

It is a move to negate the Assam Accord when the process of finalization of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is on in Assam, Sanjoy said.