SHILLONG: Regional parties in Meghalaya will attend the meeting to be held in Guwahati on Tuesday in order to intensify the North Eastern region’s opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2016.
The UDP and its Regional Democratic Alliance (RDA) partner, Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), will attend the meeting called by the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, senior working president of the UDP, Bindo Lanong informed that the UDP will also be part of the all regional parties’ meet.
He added all the regional parties will unanimously oppose the Bill with a demand that it should be abrogated and withdrawn.
According to Lanong, the Bill will officially open the gates to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“We are going to Guwahati to take a united stand and oppose the Bill from officially becoming an Act,” he said.
The UDP, HSPDP and PDF have voiced their opposition to the Bill echoing the sentiments that the granting citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan will overwhelm the minority indigenous community in the state.
Recently, a delegation of AGP met the state Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to chalk out plans to oppose the Bill. It was during this meeting that Sangma came up with the meeting of all regional parties on Tuesday.
Due to major differences over the Bill, the AGP has broken ties with the BJP.
The Janata Dal (United) has assured to send representatives to the North East chief Ministers’ meet. The JD (U) has also met the members of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and North East Students’ Organization (NESO).