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Citizenship Bill in BJP’s election manifesto, NESO condemns

The BJP in it’s election manifestos once again highlighted its agenda of enacting the Citizenship Amendment Bill. NESO condemns.


Guwahati

The BJP in it’s election manifesto titled ‘Sankalpa Patra’ which was released on Monday, has once again highlighted its agenda of enacting the controversial  Citizenship Amendment Bill.

The party said that  “We are committed to the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Bill for the protection of individuals of religious minority communities from neighboring countries escaping persecution. We will make all efforts to clarify the issues to the sections of the population from the Northeastern states who have expressed apprehensions regarding the legislation. We reiterate our commitment to protect the linguistic, cultural and social identity of the people of North-East. Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Sikhs escaping persecution from India’s neighboring countries will be given citizenship in India.”

The BJP’s position regarding the Bill remains adamant, so will it really be revived once again? And if so, will the Bill burn the North-East region yet again? Apart from the promise to pass the Citizenship Amendment Bill, the BJP also promised to take steps to protect the linguistic, cultural and social identity of the Northeastern States.

Its manifesto read, “We are committed to ensure that the unique linguistic, cultural and social identity of the Northeastern States is adequately protected and take steps to ensure the same.”

The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on Monday condemned the BJP poll manifesto that has promised to enact the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill if it comes back to power after the elections.

“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, protection from both internal and external aggression,” NESO Chairman Samuel Jyrwa said.

Jyrwa reminded that the whole of the Northeast was up in arms in recent months against the move by the Indian government to pass the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

“NESO strongly condemns this move by the 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,” he said.

The indigenous students’ apex body reiterated that it does not distinguish between people on the basis of their religion.

“A foreigner is a foreigner irrespective whether a Muslim or a Hindu”, it said.

So far, BJP allies in Northeast were silent on the matter – National People’s Party vice president and former Meghalaya chief minister DD Lapang said that his party would continue to fight against the bill. Earlier, NPP chief Conrad Sangma said that they are ready to find middle ground with stakeholders on board.

In Manipur, human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam is of the view that if a BJP candidate loses in Lok Sabha elections this time, one single reason would be the inclusion of Citizenship Bill in the party’s manifesto.

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