The Assam Andolon Sangrami (AAS) Manch has moved an application in the Supreme Court on Friday bringing to its notice BJP president Amit Shah’s political statement that the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 will be passed before the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The application filed in the ongoing writ petition of Assam Public Works v UOI seeks a suo motu contempt petition against Amit Shah for such declaration as the process of the NRC is being monitored by the SC.

Pranab Goswami, the Convenor of the AAS Manch, has stressed that the Amendment Bill affects the interest of the indigenous people of Assam. The employment, economy, language, culture and heritage of the indigenous people will suffer if the Bill is passed first because the diverse and allegedly illegal immigrants of all religions, from different nations would come to be declared as legal citizens.

The 2016 Bill’s intention is in juxtaposition with the NRC’s intent and the statement by the BJP President in election rallies in Kolkata and elsewhere undermines the status and power of the judiciary by creating confusion in the minds of the people.

The court is yet to consider and pass an order in this matter.

—India Legal