The Bill, aimed at altering the Citizenship Act, 1955, has encountered fierce opposition from Northeastern states.
A joint parliamentary committee, which is examining the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, is likely to table its report during the winter session of Parliament.
The Bill, aimed at altering the Citizenship Act, 1955, has encountered fierce opposition from Northeastern states. Even the Asom Gana Parishad, a constituent of the BJP-led ruling coalition in Assam, has pitched itself strongly against the Bill. Another BJP ally, the Janata Dal (United), has extended its support to the AGP on the issue. The AGP has said that the Bill is against the interests of “indigenous people”.
The governments of Meghalaya and Mizoram had also registered their opposition to the legislation.
The 30-member committee, headed by BJP Lok Sabha member Rajendra Agrawal, includes Bhartruhari Mahtab of the Biju Janata Dal, Saugata Roy of the Trinamool Congress, Meenakshi Lekhi of the BJP, Satish Mishra of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Mohammad Salim of the CPI(M).