Basaiawmoit raises Citizenship (Amendment) Bill issue in Assembly

From A Correspondent

SHILLONG, March 17: The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) legislator from Nongkrem Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on Friday raised the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Assembly.

Raising the issue during the Question Hour, Basaiawmoit sought to know if the Assam government has also conducted the tiol Register for Citizens (NRC) enrolment in areas falling within Meghalaya.

It may be mentioned that in Assam, various groups including the All Assam Students’ Union are opposing the amendment bill.

Basaiawmoit also sought to know whether Meghalaya was contemplating to accept and implement the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill which proposed granting Indian citizenship to prosecuted Hindus in other countries, to which, Lyngdoh replied in the negative.

However, the HSPDP legislator urged the state government not deal with such a serious issue in a casual manner but show its seriousness.

Basaiawmoit also wanted Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma to clarify on NRC and on the proposed citizenship (amendment) act.

Meanwhile, Dr Sangma while referring to the tiol Population Register (NPR) biometric enrolment said that this process is to have proper record of certain categories of citizens who are part of the population.

“Now before doing that (NRC), we have to have the NPR. Once NPR is done, we will know the different categories of citizens. That is why it has become crucial. We are moving with utmost caution and commitment, and move to dispel any apprehensions,” the Chief Minister said.

Moreover, Minister for General Administration Department, HDR Lyngdoh told the House that though NRC enrolment was conducted in Assam, but the Assam government had also sent documents to the state to verify the details of persons for NRC enrolment. Earlier the Assam government had sent thousands of documents to Meghalaya for verifying the details of persons who might have stayed in areas under Meghalaya, during undivided Assam.