'Clear stand on Citizenship Bill'

Our Correspondent

Silchar, June 7: MP Sushmita Dev has urged Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who is visiting Silchar on Friday, to clear the State government's stand on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016. Addressing mediapersons at a press-meet held at Indira Bhawan of this town, MP Dev said, "It is indeed a rare sight to see Sarbananda Sonowal and Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on the same stage. It is a golden chance for us to put up some questions related to the Bill and NRC." "A sense of anxiety along with fear and apprehension has gripped the minds of the people. All eyes are set on June 30, the day on which the second draft list of NRC will be published. We fear that names of lakhs of people will be eliminated from the list. Owing to poor economic condition of a large number of people, they could not go for verification when they were called upon to do so. The government should have provided them with legal aid, transportation cost and made provisions for their accommodation. Poor people find it difficult to move out from their places. Railway services could have been provided for them," the MP added to say.

"Opinions differ. There may be differences of opinions regarding the Bill within the Congress itself. But it does not matter since the Congress is in the opposition. It is the opinion of the majority party which matters the most in a democratic government. Let Sarbananda Sonowal and Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma along with the government clear their stands on the issue. Congress will always stand by the people. We are with the people and will support their decisions and opinions. The Bill is nothing but a long term visa. It is just a means to provide citizenship to illegal immigrants," the MP added.

"The Bill deals only with religious prosecution. The Bill, if passed, will make way for refugees to enter through the backdoor. The Bill will have its impact on international relations and foreign policies too. Besides NRC and the Bill, the State government should think about provision of electricity for 24 hours, modernization of the paper mills, regularization of the salaries of the employees of the paper mills, creation of employment opportunities, and think about improving the deteriorating condition of various hospitals and primary health centres. In spite of the assurances that the detention camps would be dissolved, they still exist," said MP Sushmita Dev.