Shillong Nov 18: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) on Monday sought to know a clear stand of the MDA government on the Citizenship Amendment Bill, saying the statement given by Meghalaya Home Minister, James Pangsang K Sangma “is irresponsible and amounted to succumbing to the ideology of the BJP government.”
GSMC chairman, Nikman Ch. Marak in a statement said that states with anti-immigration law like Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh are opposing the CAB tooth and nail fearing the future existence of the indigenous people is under serious threat.
“But without any anti-immigration law in hand, safeguarding the indigenous people is impossible and as such, the careless statement of Home Minister sounds hollow. We would like to know on what basis and on what law the government will protect our people from becoming minority in their own land?” Marak asked.
He said that the Home Minister talked about the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, 2016 which is yet to be implemented in the state, and an amendment in the form ordinance that is still awaiting the Governor’s assent and required the passage of an amendment Bill in the Meghalaya Assembly.
“With this backdrop, we unanimously demand that the present State government must come up with a clear cut policy in so far as the re-introduction of CAB in the ongoing Parliament session and its subsequent passage of the said bill is concerned, by specifying the number of immigrants to be accommodated in the soil of Meghalaya, and in which particular places of the state will be earmarked for their settlement. We will never accept such blunder of the government, and not even an inch of our land shall be compromised with for the settlement of foreigners,” Marak asserted.
Meanwhile Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress president, Richard M Marak condemned the Home Minister “irresponsible and insensitive comment” on Citizenship Amendment Bill.
“When the whole of Northeast is opposing it, the National People’s Party should do away with hypocrisy and double standards and clear their stand on this communally motivated bill once and for all,” the youth Congress leader said.
Marak alleged that when the CAB was introduced in 2016, the chief minister, Conrad K Sangma was the MP of Tura constituency, and also part of the NDA government that introduced the bill.
“He was silent then, and other than photo ops with central leaders, what did he do to earn the moniker iconic hero of North East?” Marak slammed.
“This is the fight of ideology and goes against the idea of India as envisioned by hundreds of freedom fighters who gave up their lives for a free secular democracy. The idea of One Nation, One Language, One Religion, being envisioned by the present government is a threat to the very idea of Unity and Diversity,” he said.
Marak said that instead of objecting to this idea which the BJP wanted to unconstitutionally impose upon the nation, “why is Mr Conrad K Sangma and NPP still supporting them? Is it only for their own greed for power and money? Mr Conrad K Sangma should earn the name of “Iconic Hero of North East” by straightening his spine and dissolving NEDA immediately. Bills like CAB and other communally motivated bills should be opposed by each and every Indian.”
Stating that the precedent has been created in Jammu & Kashmir, the Congress leader said that the financial crisis in the state is being created so that there will be a turmoil in the state and President’s Rule will be imposed to pave the way for passing of these kinds of communally motivated bills unopposed.
“Conrad and James K Sangma should note that the chief ministers of Jammu & Kashmir who supported the BJP were all under house arrest. We hope that this does not take place. We would like to remind the people that India is not a democracy for majoritarian views, but it is a Democratic Republic in which the rights of each and every individual are respected,” Marak added.
