Meghalaya CM softens stand on CAB, says ready for reconsidering the Bill

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma was in Guwahati on a completion of one year of office of the NPP-led Meghalaya government. He said the party is ready to reconsider the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 if all the stakeholders of the northeastern states are taken into confidence.

Guwahati: Meghalaya Chief Minister and leader of the National People's Party (NPP) Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said the party is ready to reconsider the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 if all the stakeholders of the northeastern states are taken into confidence.

Sangma was in Guwahati to launch the Assam unit of the party and its office in Guwahati. The occasion also coincided with the completion of one year of office of the NPP-led Meghalaya government."The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 in its current form is not acceptable. However, I am an optimistic person and I believe that there could be a middle way. All the stakeholders from the northeastern states must be taken into confidence to arrive at a consensus," he said.

Sangma also made it clear that although NPP is a partner of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the NPP is always ready to stand up and take a stand if the situation demands."We are working with the NDA as far as governance is concerned. However, there is no question of any compromise on any issue concerning the region," he said, adding that the NPP is trying to unite the people of the region so that the voice of the North-East is heard in New Delhi.

(With inputs from IANS)