Will discuss with party, on snapping ties with NDA : Meghalaya Chief Minister Sangma
Shillong, Jan 9 (IBNS) : After the Asom Gana Parishad snapped ties with the BJ-led NDA over the Citizenship Amendment Bill, another party of the northeast has said it will discuss the possibility of pulling out of the ruling coalition at the Centre, media reports said.
On a question if pulling out of NDA is an option, Meghalaya Chief Minister and President of National People's Party (NPP) Conrad Sangma said on Tuesday, “we will when the situation arises”.
He described the passing of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in the Lok Sabha as "unfortunate".
He said he would discuss the bill with his party leaders to take a call on whether to end ties with the BJP.
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Citizenship Bill that seeks to enable Indian citizenship for non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The law was passed amid high dissent from opposition parties including the Congress and the Left. Most parties from the northeast, including BJP allies, have also strongly opposed the Bill, saying it is "against the fundamental aspects of the Indian constitution".
Conrad further added that there is no confusion regarding Meghalaya government’s stand on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 as they were first to pass a resolution to oppose it. He said that they have told NDA it they are not supporting the bill.
Asked if the NPP will snap ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, the Chief Minister said: "We will see about that and will discuss with all party leaders. As you are aware, our party is present in almost five North Eastern states. Therefore, I will need to call all the party leaders and take a call on this."
Asom Gana Parishad had left the alliance, cutting its bond with the party over Citizenship Bill.
Critics of the bill say it will allow citizenship to illegal Hindu migrants from Bangladesh, who entered India after March 1971. Illegal migration is a sensitive issue in the northeast, where tribals and other ethnic communities wish to keep out the outsiders.
In the 60 state assembly of Meghalaya, National People’s Party (21) is in alliance with BJP(2), UDP(8), PDF(4), HSPDP(2), NCP(1) and 2 independents.
The Congress are in Opposition with 20 seats.
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