Northeast States to be 'Protected' from Citizenship Bill, Says Amit Shah

New Delhi, December 1, 2019:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the leaders, as well as leaders and civil society members, of the Northeast states to assure that the region has nothing to fear regarding the proposed Citizenship Bill.

According to sources, Shah met the Chief Ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, namely, Sarbananda Sonowal, Pema Khandu and Conrad Sangma respectively to discuss the Bill. He also met the the leaders of students’ unions and civil society groups of the three states on Saturday.

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Shah, after the meeting, assured that the tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and States protected with Inner Line Permit (ILP) would be safeguarded from the impact of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, according to reports.

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The consultative meeting that was held in New Delhi was aimed at discussing the construction of the controversial Bill at length.

However, Shah's assurance to protect the States would mean that non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who would acquire citizenship under the new Bill, will not be allowed to settle in these areas. They would be able to settle in the other parts of the country.

It may be mentioned here that many organizations from the Northeast Indian states have been protesting against the Bill, which is expected to be tabled during the ongoing winter session of the Parliament.

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