Assam: KSA condemns Rijiju’s statement on Citizenship Bill

28 July 2018:

The Karbi Students’ Association (KSA) condemned Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju’s statement on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and termed it as “unfortunate”.

What ruffled the KSA’s feathers was Rijiju’s assertion on Wednesday in the Parliament that people from six persecuted communities of Bangladesh, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, Jains and Christians, who entered India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, would be covered by the Citizenship Bill.

Stating that the statement was against the interests of indigenous communities, the KSA in a statement issued by its president Samson Teron said, “The Constitution of India does not favour any state religion. Therefore, the Government of India, led by the BJP, should not play such dirty politics with the people on the basis of religion”.

The KSA said it would continue to oppose the Bill. It warned the Central government not to act against the interests of locals or else it would initiate a strong democratic movement against it.