Why the Northeast is protesting against the Citizenship Act amendment ...... Outfits in Assam feel the bill goes against the NRC and the Assam Accord, Mizoram fears a higher influx of Chakmas

AASU activists show black flags to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Guwahati on February 8. PTI

Furquan Ameen, TT, New Delhi: The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has sparked protests in the Northeast. A lowdown:

What is the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016?

The bill, introduced on July 19, 2016, attempts to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to allow illegal migrants citizenship on the basis of religion. The allowance has been made for “Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan”.

One of the requirements under the Act mandated 11 years of residence in India to be eligible for citizenship. The amendment would reduce this period to six years. The bill will consider for citizenship only those who moved into India before December 31, 2014.

What about persecuted Muslim sects?

The bill has no provision for Shias or Ahmadiyas in Pakistan who are persecuted minorities there. By allowing non-Muslim migrants to claim citizenship, the bill goes against to Article 14 of the Constitution that guarantees right to equality.

Is the BJP-led government supporting the bill?

Yes. During its 2014 election campaign, the BJP had promised to provide shelter to Hindu refugees. This amendment is seen as a response to that promise.

What are the reasons for protests in the Northeast states?

Different political outfits in the Northeast are protesting for various reasons.

Assam

Political parties in Assam have been leading the protests as they feel that the bill goes against the Assam Accord of 1985 and the National Register of Citizens.

Clause 5 of the Assam Accord says that: “Foreigners who came to Assam after 1.1.1966 (inclusive) and up to 24th March, 1971, shall be detected in accordance with the provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, and the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964.”

The names of these foreigners “will be deleted from the electoral rolls” and such persons would have to register themselves under the Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, and the Registration of Foreigners Rules, 1939. Also, foreigners who entered Assam on or after March 25, 1971, “shall continue to be detected… and expelled”.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill also goes against the ongoing updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, feel several Assam outfits. The register aims to identify genuine citizens of India in Assam. One of the ways to claim citizenship is to show that the person’s name appears in any electoral roll up to March 24, 1971.

But according to the amendment, any Hindu person who illegally moved into India, say on December 30, 2014, needs to show that s/he has resided in India for six years, which in this case would be December 30, 2008.

What could this mean on the ground in Assam?

It could mean that Hindus who migrated from Bangladesh would have another shot at citizenship if they are not on the NRC. But this would not be so for Muslims who entered Assam illegally and don’t figure on the NRC now. What other problems may arise is yet unclear.

Some estimates suggest that around 20 lakh Bengali-speaking Hindus are considered illegal in Assam. 

What about states other than Assam?

Mizoram

The worry in this state is not of migration of Hindus but Chakmas, a largely Buddhist tribal community in Bangladesh. The possibility of a higher influx is a worry.

There have been protests in Manipur and Nagaland too.

How intense are the protests?

The late Assamese music legend Bhupen Hazarika's son said he would not accept the Bharat Ratna awarded to the singer-composer to protest the bill.

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has left the coalition with the BJP after the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. The BJP Assam unit has also opposed the bill.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was shown black flags when he visited Assam.

In Manipur, where the BJP is in power, chief minister N Biren Singh has met Union home minister Rajnath Singh to expressed the state's concerns.

In Meghalaya, the BJP's coalition partners, UDP and NPP, have opposed the bill.

There were protests in Mizoram and Tripura. In Tripura, parties representing indigenous tribes have opposed the bill. Protesters, led by the student body Young Mizo Association, boycotted the Republic Day in Mizoram.

The Nagaland government has opposed the bill. A complete shutdown was announced in Nagaland on Monday by tribal outfits.

Has anyone supported the bill in the Northeast?

The bill has found support in Assam's Barak valley which has a high concentration of Bengali-speaking Hindus. Last year, the All Assam Bengali Hindu Association started a signature campaign to support the campaign. The associations members also demanded the implementation of the bill.