SHILLONG: Widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill across the North East appear to have had little impact with the Centre poised to move it in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will move the bill to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. He will also move that the bill be passed.
The Lok Sabha had passed the bill on January 8 igniting protests in the region by political parties — both opposition and constituents of the BJP-led ruling National democratic Alliance at the Centre.
The Centre’s intent became clear on Saturday when addressing a public meeting in Guwahati, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the bill would cause no harm to the interests of the people of the North East, but will provide succour to those who have “embraced the idea and ethos of Mother India”.
The region has for long been grappling with the problem of illegal infiltration, particularly from Bangladesh.
The bill seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Earlier on Monday, the chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, and Manipur, N Biren Singh, also voiced their opposition to the bill and urged the home minister to ensure it was not passed in Rajya Sabha, officials said.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has also opposed the bill and has said the NPP, of which he is the national president, would sever ties with the BJP-led NDA if the bill becomes law.
Several opposition parties and NDA allies with little presence in the North East have also extended support saying they will vote against the bill if it comes to Rajya Sabha.
