Discussion on Citizenship Amendment Bill held

Guwahati, Nov 16:  A discussion on the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was organized by OKD Dialogue, a monthly discussion forum of the OKD Institute of Social Change and Development, Guwahati today, a press release said.

Santanu Borthakur, senior advocate of Gauhati High Court, steered the discussion and highlighted how the proposed Bill goes against the very spirit of the Constitution.

During the course of the discussion, a historical evolution of citizenship Acts and debates were also referred to and shown how the question of religion-based citizenship was rejected even by the Constituent Assembly.

The Dialogue also observed with amazement that the proposed amendment nowhere mentions religious persecution as the reason for granting citizenship, whereas in public perception, this has been projected as the sole objective.

A passage of this Act would deal a severe blow to the very ethos of Indian state as envisioned by the Constitution, the gathering observed. The legal validity of Assam Accord, endangered by this proposed amendment has also been discussed.

The Dialogue, which was attended by host of scholars, advocates and students, laid stress on generating an informed debate on the issue.