As many as 70 organisations in Assam protesting against the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 have decided to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the government’s recent notifications on citizenship rules.
“The petition to be filed in the Supreme Court is currently being prepared by Prashant Bhushan, and it will challenge all the notifications by the government on citizenship rules since 2015. It is expected to be filed at the earliest,” said Akhil Gogoi, adviser to Krishak Mukti Sangram Parishad (KMSS), which heads the 70 organisations spearheading the agitation against the Bill.
These groups believe that the notifications by the Modi government have fulfilled the objectives of the proposed Bill to grant citizenship to a section of non-Muslims from neighbouring countries. It was tabled in the parliament two years ago and subsequently referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), which is yet to submit its report. There was no consensus among the members, who suggested 13 amendments to the Bill.