Amid concerns over region's identity, Rajnath to call meeting of N-E CMs

Amid raging protests in Assam and some other north-eastern states over the Citizenship Bill, the Centre said on Monday Home Minister Rajnath Singh will soon call a meeting of the North-East chief ministers to discuss safeguards required to protect the region's cultural and linguistic identity.

Large-scale protests have been witnessed in Assam and some other parts of the North East seeking withdrawal of the controversial bill, which seeks to grant nationality to non-muslims who fled religious persecution from three neighbouring countries and entered India before December 31, 2014.

The bill which was passed by Lok Sabha last week is likely to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha in the budget session.

Several protesting leaders, including those from Assam's regional parties, have said the state's indigenous people will lose their linguistic and cultural identity if the Citizenship Bill is passed. Protestors have also said that the proposed legislation goes against the 1985 Assam Accord, which ..