As the Congress protested in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday against the Citizenship Amendment Bill and said it had led to unrest in the North-East threatening stability and security, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the House the Bill is intended to pave way for Indian citizenship to the persecuted religious minorities from three countries. He also assured the government was committed to preserving the distinct culture and identity of the North East.
The Minister said he was aware of the concerns regarding the bill as well as misconceptions being spread about it but would like to dispel the apprehensions of the people of Assam and the Northeast.
He said it is not only for migrants from these states but to “protect migrants of six minority communities from three nations” and was applicable to the entire country.
Thousands of migrants from Western borders are residing in states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and other states and the bill is for them too and would be implemented in all states and UTs, he said.
The Minister said there were reports of sporadic violence from some parts in Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya during the bandh called over the Bill, but the situation was fully under control and peaceful.
Singh informed the members he was in touch with the Chief Ministers of these States and would convene meetings soon.
Singh said Assam was facing the problem of illegal migration for long and witnessed an agitation from 1979 to 1985 following which the Assam accord was signed on August 15, 1985.
He said the Centre has taken concrete steps to implement the Assam Accord including completing the task of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and has constituted a high level committee to implement clause 6 of the Accord. The committee after consulting the stakeholders on protecting the interest of the local people will give its recommendations within six months.
A Home Ministry appointed committee has given its recommendations on grant of ST status to six communities of Assam namely Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Chutia, Tea Tribes, Moran and Matak.
He said the Government has accepted the recommendations and Ministry of Tribal Affairs has placed it before Parliament. While giving ST status to these communities it will be ensured that “interests, rights and privileges of the existing tribes there will be fully protected,” he added.
The Citizenship Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday and was brought to the Upper House on Wednesday. The bill was originally introduced in 2016 and was later sent to the Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) which submitted its report on Monday. On the basis of the recommendations of the JPC, a fresh Bill was introduced on Tuesday.