Asom Gana Parishad, the coalition partner of the ruling BJP in Assam has opposed Centre’s move to shelter the minority communities of neighbouring countries. Party sources said that its ‘Steering Committee’ yesterday took resolution to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016. The proposed bill has the provision of giving citizenship to minority people from Bangladesh and some other countries in India.
The party said that it would, however, continue to support the Assam Accord which has provision of deporting illegal Bangladeshi citizens who entered Assam after 24th of March, 1971. A five members team of the party will meet the Parliamentary Standing Committe over this issue in New Delhi on Tuesday. The party has also conveyed its stand on this issue to Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal. Several organizations have also opposed the bill.
On the other hand, the BJP maintained that the proposed bill would not create problems for Assam and citizenship would be given on humanitarian ground.