Sikkim Government Must Make Its Stand Clear On CAB: HSP President Bhaichung Bhutia

Hamro Sikkim Party Working president Bhaichung Bhutia has demanded the Sikkim government to form its stand clear on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill proposed by the Union government.

“We have already seen most of the Northeast governments have already opposed the Citizenship Amendment Bill. I would like our Sikkim government to do the same. This Bill is totally against the interests of Sikkimese people and Article 371F. Hamro Sikkim party utterly stands against the bill. We tend to expect Sikkim government to form their stand clear to the Centre within the interest of Sikkim,” aforesaid Bhaichung in a press statement on Wednesday.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing abuse from Pakistan, Islamic State of Afghanistan and Bangladesh, aforesaid sources.

The Bill, that amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants in select categories eligible for citizenship, has been attacked by the opposition, minority outfits and others for feat out Muslims and conjointly on the bottom that it's at odds with the Constitution, that doesn't differentiate between voters on the premise of their faith.

The Bill has sparked resentment within the northeast, and there are indications that the government is functioning out a compromise meant to reassure states within the region over the implications of granting citizenship to a large number of Hindus who have come from Bangladesh over the decades.