Meghalaya BJP legislator expressed gratitude to PM for inclusion of Christian(s) under CAA purview

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 12, 2024

Shillong South MLA of the BJP Sanbor Shullai has clarified that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) notified by the central government clearly specified that the Sixth Schedule areas which includes the state of Meghalaya is exempted from the purview of the said act.

In a press communique, Shullai claimed that he is the first BJP MLA from northeast who had raised the issue concerning the North East region to exempt the tribal areas from the implementation of the CAA.

Shullai expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for exemption of tribal areas under the act and said that only in BJP party grievances address by BJP MLA from Northeastern state has been addressed by the central leadership.

Shullai informed that the citizenship act 1955 has been amended earlier also by the Congress Government and the tribal areas has never been exempted under the congress rule, however the BJP government under the leadership of Modi has exempted the tribal areas under the citizenship amendment act 2019.

Shullai further clarified that under section 6(13) point no 3 of the section inserted it clearly states that “provided that such person shall not be disqualified for making application for citizenship under this section on the ground that the proceeding is pending against him”

Shullai said that as per the citizenship amendment act 2019 the following proviso which has been inserted clearly specify only for those who entered into India on or before 31 day of December 2014 and under this clause minimum period of stay should not be less than five years in place of 11 years in the citizenship act 1955.

Considering all the inserted clause, the BJP MLA said that the Meghalaya is completely exempted from the CAA as the provision in the clause clearly specify that the exemption is only for pending application and for those who have stayed prior to 2014 and also minimum stay in that locality should not be less than 5 years.

The BJP MLA said as enquired from the village council, welfare society and other respectable organisation in the non-schedule areas in Shillong the organisation has informed that they have not come across any such application prior to 2014.

Shullai said that it is crystal clear the CAA has no implementation in the Khasi and Jaintia hills including the state of Meghalaya, as the central government has already exempted the sixth schedule areas as per the amended act.

Shullai expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah who has also included Christian community under the Citizenship amendment act 2019 as several prosecuted Christian communities mostly from Pakistan and Afghanistan will benefit from this act.

The Shillong South MLA appealed to all the people in the state of Meghalaya not to be misled by any misinformation by any political party as the act has no implication in the state of Meghalaya.