BJP still has 61 MLAs in House of 126

GUWAHATI: With the central government set to bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill to Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), one of the three constituents of the BJP-led government in Assam, left the alliance in protest against the proposed legislation.The proposed amendments will offer a path to citizenship to minorities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan on grounds of religious persecution. The AGP’s exit coincided with the Union cabinet approving introduction of the bill in Parliament.The AGP’s opposition is based on the ground that the bill is in contradiction with the Assam accord that sets March 25, 1971, as the cut-off date for migrants and this includes Bengali-speaking Hindus. The terms of the accord, forged after the Assam agitation, are a red-line for the party and also reflect a significant section of public opinion in the state.For BJP, however, the amendments are an ideological position with strong political message. The party argues that with population of minorities in neighbouring countries, especially Hindus, dwindling in the decades since Partition, there is need to provide them a home and safe harbour. With Hindus and other minorities often subject to discriminatory laws and violence, India is the natural saviour.BJP distinguishes this approach when it comes to “economic migrants”, largely Muslims settled in the northeast, West Bengal and Bihar.While BJP argues that India is the natural saviour for minorities, especially Hindus, subject to discriminatory laws and violence in neighbouring countries, in the case of “economic migrants”, mainly Muslims, it points to the “threat” of demographic invasion that changes the religious and social balance and says such persons are illegals who must not enjoy state benefits.While BJP is under fire in Assam for “violating” the Assam Accord, its leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma have warned that rejecting the citizenship bill will mean making Assamese Hindus a minority in the next five years. BJP is hoping to drive home the argument that giving Bengali-speaking Hindus’ citizenship will be worth it as it will help counter unwelcome demographic change, hoping its support to the national register of citizens embellishes its credentials.Like most Assam and northeast-based organisations, AGP has been opposing the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act tooth and nail. On many occasions in the past, it issued warnings to BJP. AGP’s exit will not pose any threat to BJP, which has 61 MLAs of its own in the 126-member assembly and still has the support of the Bodoland People’s Front (12 seats) and one Independent.AGP, born out of almost a decade of anti-foreigners agitation in the 1970s and ’80s, quit the ruling alliance immediately after its representatives led by its president, Atul Bora, met Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.Two AGP ministers, Phani Bhushan Choudhury and Keshab Mahanta, are likely to resign from the ministry along with Bora soon. Many AGP leaders serving as chairpersons and managing directors of state-run PSUs are likely to quit their posts by Tuesday.