'Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is priority, then NRC': Amit Shah

Kolkata, April 22, 2019:

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Monday has reiterated the party's stand to enact the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill despite opposition from all corners of North-East India, which is expected to be impacted most by the Bill.

While addressing the press in Kolkata, the BJP President said: “The refugees who have come from Bangladesh - be it Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, or Christians - BJP has clearly signaled in its 'Sankalp Patra' (BJP manifesto) that we will give them citizenship.”

Shah also added that the Bill will be implemented once the composition of the Rajya Sabha changes in 2020.

“Citizenship Amendment Bill will come first, all refugees will be given citizenship, after that NRC will be made. Refugees shouldn't worry, only infiltrators should. First, the CAB will come, then NRC, NRC will not be for just Bengal but for the whole country,” Shah said.

It may be mentioned that the entire North-East rose in rebellion against the Bill - which seeks to make it easier to grant citizenship to non-muslims from neighboring countries - which is believed to have led to its lapse in the Rajya Sabha.