India celebrates its 70th Republic Day, today, on the 26th of January 2019. However, Northeastern States such as Manipur, Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland boycotted the Republic Day celebrations.
The States protested against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, passed by the Lok Sabha on the 9th of January.
The militant groups in Assam, Nagaland’s Naga Students Federation (NSF) and other groups boycotted the 70th Republic Day celebrations and want the State Governments to make their stand clear regarding the bill.
The People’s Representation for Identity and Status of Mizoram (PRISM) announced, Mizoram will not take part in today’s Republic Day celebrations.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 will provide citizenship to different communities such as the Sikhs, the Hindus, the Jains, the Buddhists, the Christians and the Parsis from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Bill is directed toward those individuals who are residing in India since before the 31st of December, 2014.
The migrants will have to pass Government scrutiny and be recommended by the district authorities and the State Governments of the Country to be eligible for benefitting from the Bill.
The higher authorities deployed security officials to control the protests. N. Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur, called for a meeting on the 29th of January, with leaders of the Northeastern States to discuss about the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Stay tuned for further updates about the story.
