We will decide on ‘appropriate time’ to snap ties with BJP: Conrad Sangma

Guwahati, February 6, 2019:

National People's Party (NPP) President Conrad Sangma, despite his best efforts, seems to be fighting an uphill battle regarding the scrapping of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. Sangma, along with other Northeastern political leaders, has held talks with many senior BJP leaders including Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Yet, there have been murmurs that the BJP will pass the Bill at any cost.

Ram Madhav, the BJP General Secretary has announced 12 February as the day when the Bill will be tabled at the Rajya Sabha, after finding “middle ground” with the aggrieved parties. Moreover, the BJP reaching out to the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj party shows that the NDA is seeking a quiet passage of the Bill under the guise of a ‘supplementary’ status.

Now, Conrad, who has been hailed as ‘Northeast hero’ for trying to bridge the gap between the adamant Central Government and the panicking masses, is starting to see the grim picture at last. While responding to demands of snapping ties with the NDA from Shillong, he said: “We will decide at an appropriate time, if the (Central) government goes ahead with the Bill in the Rajya Sabha.”

With this statement, Sangma seems to be waking up to the realization that the BJP Government shall not pay heed to indigenous voices as the Bill is part of its greater national agenda to secure votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.