AGP committed \'historic blunder\' by not supporting Citizenship Bill: Sarma

AGP committed 'historic blunder' by not supporting Citizenship Bill: Sarma

Press Trust of India  |  Guwahati 

(AGP) has committed a ''historic blunder'' by not extending support to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and has betrayed the Assamese, said Tuesday, a day after the party withdrew support to the ruling BJP-led alliance.

Former had committed the first blunder by signing the Accord and the party made the second ''historic blunder'' by not extending support to the Bill, Sarma said.

Lok Sabha passed on Tuesday the Bill that seeks to amend Citizenship Act 1955 to grant Indian nationality to people from minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- from Afghanistan, and after six years of residence in instead of 12 even if they don't possess any proper document.

''We are grateful to for the Bill and saving 18 assembly seats from going into the hands of 'Jinnah' or AIUDF's Badruddin Ajmal',' Sarma said.

''I am proud of being an Assamese and the BJP is committed to protect the interest of the indigeneous population," the minister told reporters here.

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First Published: Tue, January 08 2019. 17:41 IST