Citizenship Bill: BJP draws fire from 3 more allies in northeast

GUWAHATI: Three north-eastern states where BJP shares power with regional forces or has friendly ties with the ruling party have expressed reservations over the Citizenship Bill — an issue that has cost the saffron party its major ally, Asom Gana Parishad, in Assam.

The Meghalaya government, run by the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, had in a cabinet decision in May last year rejected Centre’s attempt to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. BJP is part of this alliance.

On Tuesday, NPP president WR Kharlukhi said, “This bill is dangerous for the north-east. I do not know why the Centre is imposing it when the region has witnessed strong anti-foreigners’ campaigns since 1979.”

In Nagaland, the ruling People’s Democratic Alliance — comprising Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party led by chief minister Neiphu Rio and BJP — resolved to urge the Centre to re-examine the legislation so that it is in consonance with the provisions of the Constitution and the existing practices of the Nagas.

In Mizoram, chief minister Zoramthanga said his government is against the new legislation. He added that the Mizo National Front (MNF), a constituent of the NDA, had been opposing it for a long time. “The Bill will be harmful for states like Mizoram where there are a large number of illegal Buddhist migrants from Bangladesh,” he said.