GUWAHATI: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has condemned BJP’s commitment in its election manifesto to bring the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2016 back if it came to power again.
The BJP manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections was released on Monday.
A press statement issued by NESO chairman, Samuel Jyrwa and secretary general, Sinam Prakash Singh, said organisation “strongly condemns the move by BJP as it clearly shows that it has no regard for the welfare of the microscopic indigenous communities of the Northeast. But rather, this move is to reduce us to a minority in our own land.”
NESO reiterated that it did not distinguish people on their religion.
“A foreigner is a foreigner irrespective whether Muslim or Hindu. NESO would like to send a clear message that it will not allow anyone to put our future generation at risk and the movement is on and will continue for uplift, safeguard and protection from both internal and external aggression,” it said.
NESO, which comprises constituents such as the Khasi Students’, All Assam Students’ Union and six other unions representing the other states of the region, had spearheaded the anti-CAB movement along with several other organisations in the Northeast in recent months.
This is not the first time that NESO has condemned the BJP’s intent to bring CAB. After BJP national president, Amit Shah had in two election rallies in Assam in February committed to bring the Bill again if it came to power, NESO had urged the electorate to give a befitting reply to the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections.