GUWAHATI: After much controversy the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will be tabled in the Indian Parliament by 13th December. Before 10th December, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will raise the CAB in Lok Sabha.
More than 50 groups and organisations of Northeast India met Amit Shah at Assam House in New Delhi on Saturday. Soon after the meeting, senior BJP leader and Assam Finance Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Home Minister has assured that it will be a different CAB from the earlier one.
“Since yesterday, representatives from Tripura, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh had a meeting with the Home Minister and almost all of them protested against the old CAB. The Home Minister has clearly stated that the old CAB won’t be repeated. This is a new, transformed and amended CAB. This new CAB will try to resolve the issues that have been raised from the Northeastern region in a positive manner,” stated Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
CAB clauses will not be implemented in Northeastern states with Inner Line Permits (ILP) and Assam’s 6th Schedule ‘Tribal Areas’ of Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Bodoland Territorial Area Districts said the senior BJP leader.
“When the Home Minister asked for reasons of protest against CAB the delegates gave a list of reasons. On the misinformation that foreigners will keep on coming after the CAB will be implemented the Home Minister said that there will be a cut-off date. Secondly, representatives from tribal states reasoned that when even people from neighbouring Assam cannot enjoy the rights then how somebody from Bangladesh is going to get those rights. The Home Minister stated that CAB clauses will not get implemented in states with ILP. Thirdly, for the protection of Assamese language the Clause 6 high-level committee recommendations will be given utmost priority,” said Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The representatives of the organisations have assured that if there will be changes in the new CAB as discussed in the meeting with the Home Minister then they might rethink their old stand said Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
BJP’s coalition partners Asom Gana Parishad and BPF also gave their suggestions and are waiting for the renewed CAB.
