Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Confusion being created over Citizenship Bill, alleges BJP

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 9 - The ruling BJP today alleged that �some elements� are trying to sow confusion among the minds of the people regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB.

Addressing the media here today, State BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass said the party�s manifesto for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, released yesterday in New Delhi, clearly mentions that it will seek to engage in dialogue with all sections of the people of the Northeast who have apprehensions regarding the controversial legislation.

�Some people are selectively picking and choosing only parts of our manifesto to give a wrong impression. They are spreading misinformation and trying to inflame passions,� Dass said.

�In the manifesto our party has mentioned that we are committed to the enactment of CAB for the protection of individuals of religious minority communities from neighbouring countries escaping persecution. However, just after that part, the manifesto also clearly mentions that we will make all efforts to clarify the issues to the sections of population from the northeastern states who have expressed apprehensions regarding the legislation,� he added.

Dass said certain forces are trying to distort the picture. �The CAB as we knew is not there anymore. Once our government is re-elected a new CAB will be brought. However, we will do it after discussions and deliberations with all the stakeholders. Everything is clearly laid down in our Sankalp Patra and yet some people are trying to spread wrong notions. Some people are asking voters not to vote for parties supporting the CAB and instead vote for the Congress What is their intention?� he said.

The BJP leader added that his party is also committed to protection of the interests of the people of the Northeast. �Our manifesto clearly spells our commitment to protect the linguistic, cultural and social identity of the people of Northeast. No previous government made such a commitment. In addition, our manifesto states that Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs escaping persecution from India�s neighbouring countries will be given citizenship in India. That provision already exists in the Citizenship Act of 1955... So the CAB was drawn up on the basis of what is already in the Constitution of the country,� he said.

Dass said the government led by Narendra Modi was able to take practical steps for the development of the Northeast, including improving the infrastructure, and also in curbing activities of terrorist groups, besides undertaking digital fencing on the Indo-Bangla border.

Terming the Modi government as �100 per cent honest government�, Dass said there was no corruption during its term and cited data to suggest that the country�s economy grew at a very fast rate during the last five years.

Next Story