Newmai News Network
Aizawl | June 28
The Mizoram Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted today a resolution to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
State Home minister R. Lalzirliana, who moved the resolution said that the Bill is an attempt to make illegal migrants legal so that they become the Indian citizenship based on one’s religion. According to the Mizoram Home minister, the Bill is against the principle of secularism. “If enacted the Bill will be a big detrimental factor to a State like Mizoram as it would invite influx of illegal migrants from neighbouring countries,” the Mizoram Home minister said.
Mizoram has been facing an influx problem of illegal Chakma immigrants from Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, all the legislators strongly supported the resolution against the Citizenship Bill which was unanimously adopted after prolonged discussion.
The resolution stated that the “august house resolved to impress upon the government of India its unequivocal opposition to the proposed Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2016 that seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants eligible to be given Indian citizenship on the basis of religion”.
Many members alleged that the Bill seeks to grant citizenship to a particular religious community.
Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had earlier alleged that the Bill is an attempt to grant citizenship to a particular religious community especially the Hindus by the BJP led Central government. He also alleged that the Central government has no real intention of according citizenship to the Christians and other religious minorities apart from the Hindus.
Recently, a meeting of all the civil society organisations, the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomeration of major churches in Mizoram and all political parties except Mizo National Front (MNF) was convened under the chairmanship of Mizoram Law and Judicial minister, Lalsawta here. The meeting asked the state government to make a clear stand on citizenship bill, sources said.
The meeting highlighted that the proposed legislation has been strongly opposed by all the governments in Northeastern states and asked the Mizoram government to make its stand clear whether it supports or opposes the bill.
Mizoram NGO Coordination Committee, a conglomerate of all civil society organizations in the state had earlier submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Joint Parliamentary Committee for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill informing their opposition to the proposed bill.
It can als be noted here that Mizoram’s apex student body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) president L. Ramdinliana Renthlei had said the Bill, if passed would surely have demographic impact on Mizos as Mizoram harbours many illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries.
During a protest against the citizenship bill on May 21, Renthlei had warned a rerun of the armed uprising of 1966 if the Centre continues to neglect Mizoram and passes the bill against the interest of the people.
