SHILLONG, Feb 1 - In a major development, the BJP�s allies in the Lok Sabha have agreed to vote against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill if it is brought in the Rajya Sabha.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who is in New Delhi along with leaders of other regional parties of the North Eastern region, met other NDA allies and discussed the Bill.
�They (NDA allies) have all decided to vote against the Citizenship Amendment Bill if it is brought in the Rajya Sabha,� Sangma said in a statement. Some of the NDA allies which have assured to vote against the Bill, include Shiv Sena, Akali Dal, Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party.
Sangma said all the leaders were told about the Bill and its consequences on the North Eastern region, and the NDA allies thereafter gave an assurance to oppose the Bill.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister is part of a delegation consisting of AGP leaders including Prafulla Kumar Mahanta and Atul Bora, the National People�s Party, and UDP represented by Meghalaya Assembly Speaker and party president Donkupar Roy.
Sangma said that the delegation would also try to meet leaders of other parties outside the NDA and try to garner support against the Bill. �We will be meeting leaders of other political parties from across the country to mobilise support against the Citizenship Amendment Bill,� he added.
The delegation has also scheduled a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tomorrow. They will try to convince the duo not to bring the Bill in the Rajya Sabha.
