Meghalaya NGOs oppose Citizenship (Amendment) Bill before JPC
SHILLONG: Most of the NGOs in Meghalaya have vehemently opposed the proposed of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, before the visiting Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) here in the city on Thursday.
The Committee which is on a two-day visit to Shillong to take views and suggestions from the stakeholders on the Bill met eight organisations and two individuals on Thursday.
Speaking to media persons after meeting the Committee North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) Chairman Samuel Jyrwa asserted that the organization strongly opposed the Bill which, if passed, would drastically affect the indigenous population of the North East region.
“Even without passing of the Bill, illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are crossing over to the region be it Assam, Tripura or any other state,” he said while maintaining that the North East region cannot take the burden of Bangladeshis anymore since the region took the entire load of Bangladeshis fleeing their country during their liberation war.
Jyrwa while appreciating the decision of the Meghalaya Government to oppose the Bill also urged the Chief Ministers of other states to take a cue from Meghalaya Government and oppose the Bill.
NESO advisor, Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the organisation had made its point strongly with facts and figures before the Committee.
“North East is not the dumping ground for illegal Bangladeshis and the Bill is a threat to the identify of our indigenous people,” he said while making it clear that the region cannot take the load of Bangladeshis beyond 1971 be it Hindu or Muslim Bangladeshis.
Demanding constitutional safeguard for the indigenous people of the region including Inner Line Permit (ILP) and right over land and natural resources, Bhattacharya added that the Committee have appreciation their suggestions
During the meeting, most of the NGOs also suggested the Committee to visit other states of the North East region as well to take feedback from the people on the Bill
In the meeting, many NGOs including United Front of former members of the ULFA, KSU, FKJGP, HYC, HNYF, the Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya and others strongly opposed the Bill and urged the government not to introduce the Bill in the Parliament.
Meanwhile, chairman of the 30-member JPC, Rajendra Agarwal assured that the Committee would take care of each and every suggestion which has been made before them.
He. However, refused to comment anything on the suggestions which has been put forward by the NGOs.
Stating that the Committee has visited states like Rajasthan and Gujarat, he added that the panel may think of visiting more states in the North East since there are requests to even visit other states for seeking views from the people The Committee will submit its report to the Lok Sabha speaker.