SHILLONG: UDP has disassociated with BJP-led NEDA and NDA over the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
The BJP formed the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) in 2016 in a meeting held in Guwahati with the support of regional parties, including UDP, AGP and Naga People’s Front, among others.
Recently, BJP president Amit Shah announced the plan of the party to bring back the bill.
Hayithung Bill Lotha, who recently resigned from the post of BJP national secretary for Scheduled Tribe and Minorities, announced this in Delhi on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters at the national capital, Lotha quoted UDP leader Donkupar Roy, who decided to quit both NEDA and NDA due to the BJP’s obstinacy to bring back the bill by all means.
Similarly, NPF leader T R Zeliang has also severed ties with NEDA and NDA, Lotha said.
Roy was not available for comments but UDP leader Alantry Dkhar said even during the recent meeting in Guwahati, all the regional parties had decided to dissociate with the BJP due to the issues concerning CAB.
“We cannot allow the insensitivity of the Centre to go on,” Dkhar said.
He also said since UDP does not have an MP, supporting NDA does not arise.
West Bengal MP Anupam Hazra also supported the North East in its fight against the bill.
Hazra, who represents Bolpur constituency, told media persons in Delhi on Tuesday that the first priority of the central government should be to protect the microscopic indigenous communities of the North East and then the government can think about bringing people from outside the country.
“I was a professor in the North East for eight years and I know the sentiments of the people of the North East,” Hazra said.
According to the West Bengal MP, the first priority of any government is to look after the interest of the indigenous people of the North East. “Unless they are protected, how the government will be able to protect others and if the indigenous people feel insecure, it will be foolishness to bring people from outside,” he said.
Hazra said India is already populated and in this context, he wanted to know why the Centre should bring people from outside the country.