Rijiju seeks to reassure N-E protesters on Citizenship Amendment Bill

GUWAHATI: With Assam witnessing protests from different groups on the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016, Union minister of state for home affairs, Kiren Rijiju stated that the government would not do anything which undermines the sentiments and identities of indigenous communities of the Northeast.

Representatives of the North East Women Forum met the minister on Monday. “The interests and identities of indigenous people should not be undermined at any cost," Rijiju said. "And the government of India will not take any decision which hampers indigenous people’s interests."

Several groups in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya are opposing the bill. The bill for making minority communities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for applying for Indian citizenship is under the consideration of the JPC of both the Houses. JPC recently visited Assam and Meghalaya.