JPC Report on Citizenship Bill Not Likely in Monsoon Session

Guwahati: Member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016, Ramen Deka, on Monday said the team was unlikely to submit its report in the upcoming session of Parliament.

Deka, also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha MP, said the JPC was yet to take the views of Tripura and West Bengal on the Bill, and that its report will not be submitted to Parliament without taking into consideration the views of the two states.

“Since the Bill is for the whole country, views of all the states are necessary. Till we take the views of these states, it is not possible to submit the report,” Deka said.

Also, there is demand in Assam for the JPC to visit the state again, as a number of civil society groups could not give their representations during the last visit by the team.

The BJP MP further added that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured him over the Centre's commitment towards respecting the views of Assam and its people.

Since the visit of the JPC to Assam, the state is sharply divided over the Bill with the Bengali-majority Barak valley in favour of the Bill, while the Brahmaputra valley opposing it.

Also, the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has threatened to pull out the peace talks with the Centre, if the Bill was passed.