GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted on Thursday (March 14) that the citizenship amendment act (CAA) holds minimal significance in Assam.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that he anticipates the state to witness the lowest number of applications for Indian citizenship under CAA.
Notably, the ministry of home affairs (MHA), on Tuesday (March 12), launched a portal for eligible individuals to apply for citizenship under the CAA.
Sarma, while briefing the media, expressed his belief that Assam would record the fewest applications on the portal.
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The central government implemented the controversial citizenship amendment act (CAA) on March 11, introducing regulations to streamline citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 31, 2014.
Sarma clarified that the act stipulates the deadline for citizenship application as December 31, 2014.
In Assam, post the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update, only individuals who previously applied and did not find their names in the list would pursue CAA applications, the Assam CM said.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says BJP-lead alliance will win 13 seats in Assam
hief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the BJP-led alliance will win 13 seats in Assam.
Speaking to the media, the CM said that he was confident that the BJP would win 13 seats in Assam and with a great margin.
He stated, “If the people of Jorhat and Sivasagar will not make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister again, then who would? It is not an election to choose between me or Bimal Bora but is about choosing Narendra Modi.”
He claimed that in Dibrugarh, Sarbananda Sonowal would win by 3 lakh votes.
“If he does not win with 3 lakh votes, you can come as tell me”, he told media persons.
Sarma also claimed that while they were confident of the 13 seats, the BJP or its alliance were not sure about the Dhubri seat.
Also Read: Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal embarks on campaign trail, urges support for BJP
He stated that to win the seat in Dhubri, the BJP would have to change their principles but he does not see any possibility of the BJP-led alliance.
However, he also stated the AGP does have a scope of winning the seat as “some people” do give them votes which normally refrain from selecting the BJP.
It may be mentioned that the AGP is in an alliance with the BJP and will contest for the Dhubri seat as a part of the alliance.