Two different laws for one country: CPI(M)'s Hannan Mollah on exclusion of 3 NE states from CAB

Lashing out at the Bharatiya Janta Party for "discriminating on the basis of religion" while providing citizenship to "illegal" immigrants through the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Hannan Mollah said that the Bill against the constitutional principles. On the government's alleged move to exclude three Northeastern states out of its ambit besides the tribal areas in three other states from the region, Mollah said that the BJP is trying to impose "two different laws in one country".

New Delhi:With the redrafted Citizenship (Amendment) Bill likely to exclude three Northeastern states out of its ambit besides the tribal areas in three other states from the region, senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Hannan Mollah criticised the move saying that the BJP is trying to impose "two different laws in one country".

"They are working towards the idea of having one language, one religion, one law, one country, and one ration, but when it comes to the issue of citizenship, they have two different laws. One country two laws. They conveniently justify their requirements. This is ridiculous, " Mollah told ETV Bharat in an interview.

Calling out the BJP for discriminating on the basis of religion while providing citizenship, the former Parliamentarian said, "they categorically excluded Muslim minority from applying for citizenship. They have included Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, but excluded Sri Lanka and Myanmar, but people are coming from theses two places as well. This Bill is against the principles of the Constitution. You cannot give citizenship on the basis of religion. When you give citizenship on the basis of religion, it is discriminatory."

"This Bill is not tenable. It is anti-constitutional, it is anti-democratic, " added the veteran politician.

On choosing 31st December 2014 as the base year to determine citizenship rights under the controversial Bill, Mollah said that he doesn't understand the logic behind choosing the specific date.

"I do not know much about it. I think they came to power in 2014, so they are treating this year as a historic day. BJP coming to power is not the only milestone the country has achieved so far, " said Mollah.

When asked if he hopes that allies of BJP in state governments as well as at the Centre would oppose the Bill, the way the Nitish Kumar -led JD (U) did the last time around BJP tried to pass the Bill in the Parliament, the former MP from Uluberia said, "Last time around, when it (CAB) was tabled in the Rajya Sabha, many parties opposed it, including RJD, BJD, etc. But, now they (BJP) are claiming that they have managed the parties."

"Parties which actually believe in the Constitution and the idea of secularism, though they may be an ally of the BJP, should come out against the Bill when it comes in the Parliament, " added Mollah.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet had cleared the Citizenship Amendment Bill on December 4, which is now set to be tabled in Parliament for consideration and passage.

The Bill is believed to have stated that any person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian community from Bangladesh, Afghanistan or Pakistan, who entered into India on or before December 31, 2014, shall not be treated as an illegal migrant.

The bill, according to the sources, also stated that a person belonging to any of these six communities must have resided in India for a minimum period of five years to get citizenship.

However, the Centre's move to bring the bill without a common consensus has also invited criticism from its allies.
NDA ally, Janata Dal (United) has even suggested that the bill should be sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for closer scrutiny.

Meanwhile, the All Assam Students Union (AASU) as well as North East Student Organisation (NESO) has called for a northeast bandh on Tuesday in protest against the bill.

Both AASU and NESO have opposed the bill in "any format".