By  Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati :   People’s Party of Arunachal PPA asks Khandu Govt to hold meet on Citizenship Bill.Launching a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation, People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) has criticised the Pema Khandu-led BJP Government in the State for maintaining stoic silence on the issues of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the Chakma-Hajong and Tibetan refugees.The regional outfit has suggested the State Government to convene a meeting of all stakeholders, including all political parties, representatives from refugee affected areas, student unions, and subject experts from Rajiv Gandhi University or other institutions at the earliest to discuss the possible implications of the Bill on Arunachal Pradesh. The Bill proposed by the Central Government seeks to grant citizenship to people without valid documents from six minority communities – Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians – from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan after six years of residing in India. The PPA opined that while the Tibetan refugees are excluded from the purview of the Bill for now, but if passed, there is apprehension that the Tibetan refugees will be included in the legislation in the coming years. If Tibetan refugees start getting citizenship after staying in India for just six years, soon Arunachal Pradesh will be dominated by Tibetans and Chakma-Hajongs, the party said. Making a mention that Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said that he has no reason to continue in his post if he cant protect the interest of the people of Assam, the PPA said, in contrast, Pema Khandu is silent on this issue. “If he is silent even after being aware of the issue, the common public has no other option but to assume that Pema Khandu and his BJP-led State Government is indirectly sympathising with Chakma-Hajong and Tibetan refugees and is ready to welcome them to become bonafide citizens of Arunachal Pradesh,” commented the PPA.