A delegation of Janata Dal (United) led by its secretary general K.C. Tyagi on Monday met leaders of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) to lend support in the fight against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 .
The JD(U) is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bihar while the AGP had severed its alliance with BJP in Assam earlier this month following differences over the Bill that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims who reportedly fled religious persecution from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and came to India till December 31, 2014. The Bill is awaiting approval or rejection in the Rajya Sabha.
The JD(U) team met the AGP at the latter’s headquarters in Guwahati and assured to oppose the Bill in the Upper House of Parliament. “We discussed the ramifications of the controversial Bill and decided to extend support to all political parties opposed to it,” Mr Tyagi said.
An Upper House member from Bihar, Mr. Tyagi said no one can stop the Bill from getting implemented if the Congress boycotts the Rajya Sabha session.
The AGP and other parties in Assam not aligned with the BJP are opposing the Bill as they fear it will legalise the stay of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and change the linguistic and cultural identity of the State.
