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Immigrant Bengali in Assam
WORSE IS BETTER?
SK Deb
In its election manifesto before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had declared India as “a natural home for persecuted Hindus” who “shall be welcome to seek refuge”.Accordingly, the NDA government on 19 July, 2016 introduced a bill in Parliament to amend the Citizenship Act so that Hindus, Sikhs and other minorities of Indian origin of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan could be granted citizenship even if they do not provide required documents.
It is proposed to amend the Schedule 3 of the Act to make applicants belonging to minority communities from the aforesaid countries eligible for citizenship by naturalization in 7 years instead of existing 12 years.
Immediately, a campaign against the proposed amendment of the Citizenship Act has begun. Some media have started activating people to resist the NDA government’s decision. The All Assam Students Union (AASU) are strongly against the move to grant citizenship to foreigners - whether they are Hindus or Muslims - who migrated to Assam after 1971. According to them, Assam is not in a position, both socially and economically, to take any more burdens of immigrants from other countries. This would be in direct violation of clauses of the “Assam Accord” and would pose a serious threat to the very existence of indigenous people of Assam. They have decided to stage statewide demonstrations on this issue.
To read the further article please get your copy of Eastern Panorama September issue @http://www.magzter.com/IN/Hill-Publications/Eastern-Panorama/News/ or mail too contact @easternpanorama.in
