North‑East India Celebrates: Citizenship Bill Falls Flat
After a slew of protests and a last‑minute showdown in Parliament, the Modi‑era citizenship bill that would have given Hindu and other minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan a new Indian identity has been shelved. The news sent waves of celebration through the seven states of the northeast, which had long been a tinderbox of tribal and settler tensions.
What the Bill Had Planned
- Grant Indian citizenship to Hindus & certain minorities who left Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- Pass the bill through the lower house (Jan) but stumble in the upper house.
- Push the nod through before the upcoming general election in May.
But the upper house adjourned on Wednesday, Feb 13, putting an abrupt stop to the legislation. The ruling NRCO got no chance to check in – and the bill didn’t make it past the final sitting.
Celebrations in the States
Local media reporters witnessed jubilant scenes in six or more northeastern states. The vibe? “We did it!” with chants of unity and relief echoing in the hills.
Samujjal Bhattacharyya, an influential figure in the All Assam Students’ Union, told AFP:
“It’s a historic victory for the people of north‑east India. Those seven states stood together and forced the ruling party to back down.”
“We’re not backing off – if the BJP government comes to power, we’ll oppose the Bill with full force.”
Why It Had to Be Stopped
The region’s been on a tinder fire of tension for decades, with tribal groups clashing over land, resources and the growing influx of outsiders from Bangladesh and beyond.
Human rights activists blasted the government’s plan, noting that it would label citizenship by religion for the first time in a country that bills itself as secular. “Excluding Muslims isn’t just controversial – it’s disqualifying,” one activist warned.
Not only did the bill turn bigotry into law, but it also threatened to deepen already fragile ethnic lines. Critics said this was the first time religious identity would be a snappy criterion for who could stay.
In Short
When the bill failed, people in the northeast breathed a sigh of relief. The sentiment was clear: “We stand united, we won the fight, and we’re ready for our future.” For the region, that echoed louder than any music—a triumph of grassroots resistance over political prom‑s.
