Concerned by the large scale public outrage in Assam against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, the Assam Government on Friday tried to quell the fire and said that the BJP led Government is not going to do anything that affects the interest of the State.
Assam Industry Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary addressed a press conference and said that there is nothing to panic as the Government is not going to take any decision which is detrimental to the interest of the State.
“The Chief Minister (Sarbananda Sonowal) had stood up for the people in the past and he will do so in the future. It was due to his efforts that saw the IMDT (Illegal Migrants’ Determination Tribunal) Act, which made detection of immigrants difficult, being struck down (by the Supreme Court),” Patowary said while appealing to the people to have faith on the government.
Patowary’s press conference and assurance came at a time when different organizations of the
State and individuals of Assam have taken to streets opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, which seeks to grant citizenship to the minority communities of Bangladesh, besides Pakistan and Afghanistan, who infiltrated into the country till December 31, 2014 due to religious persecution.
“At a time the NRC is being updated in the State, why should the State Government give an opinion on the BillIJ The Government will make its position known once the entire NRC exercise is over,” the Minister said.
It may be mentioned here that the NRC is being updated in Assam through a three tier verification process under the direct monitoring of Supreme Court. While the first draft of the NRC was published on December 31, 2017, the final draft of the historical document will be published within June this year.
The NRC is expected to identify the genuine Indian citizens living in the state and the illegal foreigners living in the State.