SHILLONG: The chief convener of North East Indigenous People’s Forum (NEIPF), Anup Chetia, has praised Conrad Sangma for taking a “bold stand” against the citizenship bill despite being an ally of the BJP.
“We need people like Conrad Sangma as not only leader of Meghalaya but the whole of North East region,” Chetia, who met Sangma on Tuesday, told reporters.
To a query whether he would lead a delegation of NEIPF to Delhi, he ruled out any direct involvement in opposing the bill as ULFA is in peace talks with the Centre.
“The CAB will finish the identity, culture and demographic structure of the northeastern region, especially Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Manipur,” he added.
On ILP, Chetia said it should be implemented both in Assam and Meghalaya.
Asked, if he will garner the support of former militant leaders, Chetia said there were discussions with those who surrendered or are in the peace process.
“We don’t want to go to the jungle and don’t want to send anybody to the jungle,” he said, adding that the fight against the CAB will be in a democratic manner.
Sangma reiterated that the Centre will make the right decision.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme, the chief minister pinned hopes on the assurance he received from political parties on opposing the bill.
“Whether it is the ruling allies of the BJP or the Third Front or the opposition as a whole, we are seeing that almost all the political parties are against the CAB which goes against the national interest,” he said.
The leaders are yet to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is touring the country. When asked about the comments of Modi who is bent on implementing the bill while the delegation received an assurance from the home minister on considering the sentiments of the people of North East, he said, “Every individual will have a mind but at the end of the day the government will take a decision that is going to take all the aspects into consideration.”
