We will continue to fight against CAB: NPP

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 8, 2019

SHILLONG: The National People’s Party (NPP), which is an ally of the BJP-led NDA government, has maintained that it would continue to fight against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2016.

“We are firm in our stand that we would continue to fight against this Bill (CAB),” NPP leader and deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said on Monday.

This came as a reaction soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha polls and pledged that it is committed to implement the CAB if it is voted back to power at the centre.

The NPP is leading the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government which comprises of six political parties including two BJP MLAs – Sanbor Shullai and AL Hek.

Asked if this would not affect the MDA, Tynsong however said it seemed that the BJP is very clear in its decision so is the NPP adding “We will not compromise on this issue.”

Whether the party would continue to support the NDA, the NPP leader however said, “The pact will end on May 23, so let us cross the bridge first then will accordingly take the decision at the right time.”

Earlier, NPP national vice president and former chief minister DD Lapang reminded that the chief minister Conrad K Sangma was the first one who had opposed the CAB as it is not for the benefit but rather dangerous for the indigenous people.

He said that the MDA along with other leaders of the North East region have also come together due this very sensitive issue related to the CAB.

On the other hand, the party state president WR Kharlukhi said the party in its general council meeting had maintained that it would pull out of the NDA if the BJP introduces the CAB in the Rajya Sabha.

“Since it was not passed so we are still there in the NDA and we have nothing to hide as we are not sly like the Congress party,” he said.

“The Congress is bringing the BJP-NPP issue but in Jaintia Hills, they are sleeping with the BJP during previous executive committee in 2018,” Kharlukhi added.

The state president further stated that NPP is formed with ideology of protecting the indigenous people of the North East adding “anything that harms the NE people we are going to fight against that.”