Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday said the Centre did not introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha respecting the interests of the people of Northeastern States.
The people of the region, he said, had staged protests without understanding the pros and cons of the citizenship amendment bill.
The government, respecting their sentiments, had decided not to introduce the bill in the Rajya Sabha though many states were supporting it, the Union minister of state for home told reporters here.
The controversial bill, passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8, sought to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after seven years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the norm currently, even if they do not possess any documents. It is now set to lapse on June 3.
Rijiju claimed that the bill would in no way affect Arunachal Pradesh, from where he hails, as it is governed by a different set of laws and under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act.
People from other states need to take Inner Line Permit to enter Arunachal Pradesh, while foreigners need to obtain Protected Area Permit (PAP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP), he pointed.
"I am committed to protect the interests and rights of the people of state," he added.
Rijiju will contest from the Arunachal West constituency in the general elections. Former chief minister Nabam Tuki has been pitched against him by the Congress. Arunachal will witness simultaneous polls to the assembly and the Lok Sabha.
Rijiju said the opposition had raised the issue of granting refugee status to Tibetans, Chakmas and Hajongs, who are residing in the state, without the knowledge of the ground reality. The Tibetan refugees who came to India in 1959 and are settled in five refugee camps in the state, are not willing to take citizenship of India even if the Supreme Court grants it to them as they are fighting for their country's freedom, he said.