In a surprising development, the Mizoram state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday voiced their open protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
BJP state president John V Hluna was of the opinion that the bill if turns into an Act would open the floodgates to illegal migrants from Bangladesh to Mizoram as well as entire Northeast and that these infiltrators would also be granted citizenship.
Notably, the state BJP unit has already forwarded a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing their reservation over the contentious citizenship bill.
Meanwhile, the state BJP president is holed up in New Delhi to meet several central leaders including the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Notably, State Chief Minister and Mizo National Front (MNF) supremo, Zoramthanga has also left for the national capital on Saturday and is also expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and convey his government’s and party’s view on the citizenship bill.
Also read: Mizoram: MNF to take call on NEDA ties over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill issue
It may be recalled that earlier on Wednesday, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had said that he would call a meeting of the Mizo National Front (MNF) party to discuss about the issue of passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and decide whether to continue in the BJP-led North Eastern Democratic Alliance (NEDA) or not.
The MNF is a part of the NEDA and an ally of the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre.