SHILLONG: The Congress, which is in the process of preparing its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, has received suggestions to bin the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, if it comes to power.
Speaking to media persons after a consultative meeting of the party for the manifesto, CLP leader Mukul Sangma said the NDA government at the Centre “is either bankrupt of knowledge about the North East or there is a complete disregard and insensitivity to the problems of the region”.
“There were suggestions to scrap the CAB if we get the mandate in 2019,” he said.
The party is engaging in exhaustive consultation with citizens to draw up their 2019 manifesto. Sangma said the international border issue, interstate boundary row, migrants and the citizenship bill were the few top issues which were highlighted during such interactions.
Impediments to the growth of healthcare and education sectors were also highlighted.
“The complexity of border issues is hampering the growth and development of the region when it should be converted into borders of prosperity,” said Sangma, who was of the view that pending issues must be resolved lest they turn into a hindrance to cross-border trade and commerce.
Stating that this exercise of the Congress will make it easier for them to address the contentious issue if they get the mandate in the 2019 parliamentary elections, Sangma said, “There is a need to look at the issues from a geo-political perspective to solve it.”
