SHILLONG, Feb 13 - Taking note of the failure of the BJP-led NDA Government to table the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Rajya Sabha, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has termed this as a �great moment� for the people of Northeastern region.
�It is indeed a great and an emotional moment for all the citizens in the Northeastern part of the country. Today the sentiment and voice of the people has prevailed,� Conrad said here on Wednesday.
Conrad, who is also the National president of National People�s Party (NPP), had led a delegation of the North East-based political parties to New Delhi to campaign against the CAB.
He has also been hailed by many for his bold stand against the Bill which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The CAB could not be tabled after the Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned sine die following huge disruptions by opposition members on Wednesday. This was the last session of the Rajya Sabha before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier, the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8. In this backdrop, Conrad has thanked the leaders of the eleven political parties, civil societies, student bodies, and others for playing a critical role in ensuring that the voice of the people reaches the leadership at different levels.
The NPP had also decided to break ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the Bill is passed in the Rajya Sabha.
Asked what would happen if the Centre finds other ways to implement the Bill, Conrad said, �If that situation comes, we will take a stand on that but at this moment it (Bill) has not gone through, so I think that is what is important for us.�
Mizoram Chief Minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga on Wednesday expressed happiness over Rajya Sabha being adjourned sine die without tabling the CAB.
�It is a matter of joy that the Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die without the CAB being tabled. It appears that the Bill will not be passed in the tenure of the present government at the Centre. It is quite a relief,� Zoramthanga said.
He attributed the results to the collective efforts of the people of North East, civil societies and political parties in opposing the Bill.
Citing that all political parties in the State are in one accord against the Bill, the Chief Minister claimed that his government had strongly opposed the Bill since the very beginning.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday congratulated the people of Manipur after the CAB was not tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
The Chief Minister, currently stationed in New Delhi alongwith leaders of 11 other political parties of the State, said that it is a collective victory of the united voices which rose against the Bill. He gave credit for the successful opposition to the Bill to the students, women folks, NGOs and different political parties.