President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday reiterated that his government has decided to amend the Citizenship Act while protecting the linguistic, cultural and social identities. He clearly said that union government will bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) to preserve identity in the region.

In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind said, the government is working to identify infiltrators, on the other, it is also fully committed to protecting those who are victims of persecution due to their faith in neighbouring countries.

"In this regard, efforts will be made to amend the Citizenship Act while protecting the linguistic, cultural and social identities," he said.

"My government has decided to implement the process of National Register of Citizens on priority basis in areas affected by infiltration," : Kovind added.

Ahead of Lok Sabha polls 2019, PM Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah and BJP frontal body incessantly reiterated that the NDA government will bring in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 if voted back to power in 2019.

There were huge protests in the Northeast, particularly in Assam, early this year over the move to amend the Citizenship Act as it intends to give citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Christian illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.