BJP-backed Meghalaya govt opposes Citizenship Bill

The co-ordination committee of the BJP-backed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government on Friday reiterated its opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which will be introduced in the parliament on December 11.

"We are not happy because we had made our stand clear to the Central government to exempt Meghalaya from the Bill. But according to the draft Bill, it is found to be applicable in some places that are outside the schedule areas of the state," Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told journalists.

"If the Bill can be exempted in 96 per cent areas of the state, why not exempt the whole state from the applicability of the Bill," the Deputy Chief Minister asked.

On Saturday, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had submitted a joint resolution to Home Minister Amit Shah adopted by the Meghalaya government, different political parties and members of civil society groups opposing the amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955.

However, Tynsong said that they will write again to the Central government opposing the Bill, saying that it should be exempted entirely in Meghalaya.

"We will request the lone National People's Party MP Agatha K. Sangma and opposition Congress MP Vincent H. Pala to express the unhappiness that we have," he added.

The MDA coalition government comprises the National People's Party, the United Democratic Party, the People's Democratic Front, the BJP and the Hill State People's Democratic Party, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement besides Independents.

( With inputs from IANS )