HYC Urges Government to Review High Court Plea to Centre

Shillong: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has written to the state Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma and Home Minister, James K Sangma urging them to review before an appropriate forum, the recent Meghalaya High Court’s appeal to the Central government to grant Indian citizenship to immigrants Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who face prosecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“…we are of the opinion that if the foreigners irrespective of any religion or community will be allowed to live in this country peacefully without making any cut-off year and be given citizenship without any question or production of this documents, this will hamper the demographic structure of our state and in the long run the indigenous people of the state will be outnumbered in our own backyard and this will affect the political, economic, land, social and cultural rights of the indigenous people of the state,” the HYC said.

The HYC also said that it was of the opinion that if any foreigner irrespective of any religion or community will be declared as Indian citizen if they come to India this will put the nation’s security at risk.

In this regard, the HYC has demanded from the state government to intervene and make representation to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi the members of Parliament not to bring any law to allow foreigners irrespective of any religion or community who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to live in this country peacefully and be given citizenship without any question or production of any documents or to allow and declare Indian citizens to those who may come in the near future without following the due process of law as applicable to foreigners entering India.

In a judgment passed recently, the Meghalaya High Court, Justice S R Sen said, “I can simply say that the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos residing in India which ever date maybe, they have come to India are to be declared all as Indian citizens and those who will come in future also to be considered as Indian citizens.”

The single bench of the High Court passed this judgment after hearing a petition filed by one Amon Rana, who was denied domicile certificate.

“I request our beloved Prime Minister, Home Minister, Law Minister and Members of the Parliament to bring a law to allow the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Parsis, Christians, Khasis, Jaintias and Garos who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to live in this country peacefully and with full dignity without making any cut off year and be given citizenship without any question or production of any documents.”

“Similar principle should be taken to those who live in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan,” he said.

The Court said these communities may be allowed to come at any point of time to settle in India and the Government may provide rehabilitation properly and declare them citizens of India.

Also Read: Meghalaya News