Shiv Sena, JD(U) to vote against Citizenship Bill

GUWAHATI: Two days after PM Modi announced that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, would be passed in Parliament, allies Shiv Sena and JD(U) delivered a blow to BJP on Sunday, saying they would vote against the controversial bill.

The two pledged allegiance to a campaign against the Bill launched by another BJP ally, AGP. The proposed amendment, which will allow non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to seek Indian citizenship, has faced strong resistance in Assam.

Will pull out of alliance with BJP if bill passed: AGP chief

We are determined to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in Parliament. The people of Assam, irrespective of their caste, religion and creed, oppose the proposed legislation,” Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said in a statement.

Opposing the Bill, JD(U) national general secretary Sanjay Verma said his party will oppose the bill because it will do no good to the identity and culture of Assam and the northeast. In September last year, JD(U) chief and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had pledged his support to an AGP delegation, led by its president Atul Bora in Patna.

Bora, who is a minister in the BJP-led Assam government, told TOI that AGP will meet leaders of more parties. “Finally, we will meet the leaders of the ruling party (BJP) and PM Modi with a request to drop the bill.”

“We will reach out to every political party. In case the Bill is passed, we will pull out of the alliance with BJP in Assam,” Bora added.

AGP, a regional party with roots in the anti-foreigner movement of the 1980s, had earlier reached out to Shiv Sena and JD(U) and sought their support in its movement against the Bill. AGP does not have any MP and is counting on support from the two parties and also expects backing from Congress, Trinamool Congress, Biju Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party when the Bill is re-introduced with changes recommended by the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The committee’s report is likely to be placed in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

It is unlikely that the government would be able to bring the Bill on Tuesday, the last day of the current session of Parliament.