Arunachal Govt calls All party meeting on CAB
The meeting held under the chairmanship of Home Minister Bamang Felix, was attended by representatives of six political parties - the BJP, Congress, NPP, JD(U), PPA and the JD(S),
Itanagar
The Consultative Committee on Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) set up by the Arunachal Pradesh government on Monday held an all-party meeting that vowed to protect the rights of the state’s indigenous people.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of Home Minister Bamang Felix, was attended by representatives of six political parties – the BJP, Congress, NPP, JD(U), PPA and the JD(S), besides all members of the committee, an official release said here.
The parties pledged to protect the indigenous people’s rights and shared their opinions on the CAB while Felix requested them to submit their views in writing to the member secretary of the consultative committee at the earliest. The nine-member panel would meet community based organisations and students’ unions on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, the home minister said.
Felix said the views offered by various stakeholders would be taken into consideration before finalising the committee’s recommendations to be submitted to the state government, the release said. The recommendations will be based on the provisions of the Constitution and various laws and rules that protect the interests of indigenous people of the state.
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The state government would present the recommendations to the central government to ensure that adequate provisions are incorporated in the CAB to safeguard the interests of the people of the state, the sources said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said on October 1 that Parliament will pass the CAB which will grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after seven years of stay in the country even if they do not possess proper documents.
The indigenous people of the Northeastern states fear that entry of these people will endanger their identity and livelihood. During a meeting of the North East Democratic Alliance at Guwahati, Shah, also BJP president, had said the concerns of the North Eastern states will be incorporated in the CAB and has sought suggestions on the issue..
Kahfa Bengia, the president of PPA said that “we will not opposing framing of any law by central government but our views are to exclude refugees Arunachal Pradesh need to be declared as protected state.
Pani Taram, Working President NPP said that ” our decision should be in the interest of state and indigenous right, it should not hurt the sentiment of indigenous people of state”.
Dominic Tadar, Vice President BJP said that ” Arunachal Pradesh as tribal state and all provision of tribal should be kept under consideration. Inner line permit should be strictly maintained. If anyone is made an Indian citizen they should come to state with proper ILP in any case”.
Ruhi Tagung, President Janata Dal (United) said “we want a assurance from Government of India for the protection of indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh before passing of CAB”.
L Wanglat, Former Home Minister and Congress leader while said that “ CAB is against the basic structure of the Indian constitution, it violate Article 14, we oppose it”.
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