The National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government on December 6 reiterated its opposition to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
“The MDA government as a whole is not satisfied with the CAB. Our stand has been from day one that the CAB should not be made applicable in Meghalaya,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters after the MDA coordination committee meeting on CAB.
The MDA government is comprised of the NPP, United Democratic Party (UDP), Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), People’s Democratic Front (PDF), BJP and NCP, besides Independents.
“We went to New Delhi on November 30 and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah where during the meeting, in one voice we oppose the CAB and submitted one resolution by all political parties and stakeholders telling the union home minister that we do not want the CAB in as far as Meghalaya state is concerned,” Tynsong said.
After the Union cabinet approved the draft CAB, Tynsong informed that the central government has already incorporated only one line which states “Meghalaya being the sixth Schedule, the CAB will not be applicable only in sixth schedule areas”.
However, Tynsong argued, “Since Schedule areas in Meghalaya are not less than 96 to 97 percent, why not exempt in another two or three percent, and make it 100 percent exemption”.
“We will again write a letter (from the MDA) and send it to the central government that we oppose the CAB. We also have Agatha K Sangma our MP of the MDA from the state, and we will also request our MP from the Congress side to support our unhappiness in as far as the CAB is concerned,” the deputy CM said.
