Citizenship Amendment Bill: Manipuri filmmaker returns Padma award in protest

Imphal: Renowned Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Sharma is returning his Padma Shri award in protest against Citizenship Amendment Bill. Aribam Sharma was awarded Padma Shri in 2006.

His action comes amid a strong protest against the bill across northeastern states of India. Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has rocked the entire northeast, including Assam, over the past five weeks, with several organisations and political parties vehemently opposing it.

The legislation, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014.