After the publication second draft of NRC in Assam, the central government had formed a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to seek public opinion on the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016. In a recent development, the JPC has informed that due consideration shall be given to the people whose name are not enlisted in NRC.
With protests across the state, JPC Chairman Rajendra Agarwal while addressing media persons in Delhi said "The JPC shall take up the matter of Citizenship Amendment Bill after the publication of final draft of NRC on June 30. All matters related to the bill shall be discussed giving utmost importance".
He also added that though majority of the people in Assam have opposed the Bill, a section has also extended their support and as such, those people have to be taken into consideration too.
Agarwal said "There has been no opposition in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. They are, in fact, ready to give shelter Hindu immigrants from Pakistan". He also said that he might be a member of the ruling party but does not represent his party in the JPC and has always had an unbiased approach.
It may be mentioned here that AASU had organised a mass protest in Guwahati againsth the Bill on May 29, where as many as 28 organisations participated including BJP's ally in Assam – AGP.
