SHILLONG: The ruling National People’s Party (NPP) and Opposition Congress in the state besides NGOs were up in arms on Monday as the BJP committed itself to enact the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill if it returns to power.
In its manifesto released on Monday, the BJP, however, also said it would not target any cultural or linguistic group and preserve the identity of the states and respect every state’s cultural value.
Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad Sangma reiterated the ruling party’s strong opposition to the bill.
“They (BJP) are firm, but so are we. We keep telling people that we are in the coalition, but we are different parties and have different ideologies. We will never compromise,” Sangma said. “We have been very particular that we will not accept this bill. We have been clear with our stand,” he said.
Echoing Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the NPP was firm in opposing the CAB adding that the party would continue to fight against the bill. “If the BJP is firm that it would not compromise on the issue of CAB, the NPP is also firm that it would oppose the CAB till the end. On this issue, there is no question of any meeting point,” he said.
NPP leader DD Lapang said the issue of Citizenship Amendment Bill was one of the reasons which brought the regional parties together in Meghalaya to field a common candidate.
NPP state president WR Kharlukhi said that the party had earlier made it very clear that if BJP goes ahead with the CAB, it will withdraw support from the NDA.
Congress leader P T Sawkmie condemned the BJP’s commitment to reintroduce the bill.
In a statement issued on Monday, Sawkmie, who is also the Opposition Chief Whip, said it is clear that if BJP comes to power, it will implement CAB.
“It is very unfortunate that in spite of the protests from all sections of people, the BJP did not respect the sentiments of the people of North East”, Sawkmie said.
“The attitude of BJP is anti-minority and anti-North Eastern region. I appeal to the people of North East to vote against the BJP and reject the party and its alliance in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election”, he said.
Congress spokesperson HM Shangpliang said the party will continue to oppose CAB.
“The stand of the Congress is still the same and we will not allow the CAB to be passed. We honour the manifesto of the party wherein the CAB will not be allowed to become a law in the country,” he added.
On the other hand, the state BJP has asserted that there is a need to make people aware why CAB is good for the nation.
BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh while talking to The Shillong Times said that the state unit last time had made it clear to the party’s central leadership that their two MLAs, Sanbor Shullai and AL Hek, were ready to resign if the people are not taken into confidence on the issue of CAB.
Admitting that the BJP at the Centre wants to implement CAB, he added that it exists since 1955 and people would have to be made aware about this.
He also said that if the BJP comes back to power at the Centre it may constitute a high level committee to take feedback of the people on this bill especially the people of the North East.
Stating that the BJP’s commitment to CAB in the party manifesto will not have any impact on the party’s prospects in Meghalaya, he reiterated that people should have knowledge about the bill in real terms.
It may be mentioned that a series of agitations rocked the Northeastern states, including Meghalaya, when the bill was introduced and later passed in Lok Sabha. Incumbent BJP candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat, Sanbor Shullai, had at the time even threatened to quit the party if the CAB was passed in Rajya Sabha.
The government, however, did not move the bill in the Rajya Sabha in the face of protests in the region leading to its lapse.
BJP’s true colour exposed: Pala
The BJP’s agenda to pass the citizenship bill once the party is elected to power has given ammunition to Shillong Lok Sabha candidate Vincent Pala to target the saffron party.
Pala said on Monday that the true colour of the BJP is exposed due to the party’s stand on the issue.
According to Pala, the BJP does not seem to be bothered about protecting the indigenous people of the region.
The Congress leader said people should be cautious about UDP and NPP which are aligning with the BJP.
Earlier, the BJP-led NDA government could not take up CAB due to protests from several quarters. (With agency inputs)
