BJP ally Janata Dal (United) on Saturday threw its weight behind protesters against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, arguing that the proposed legislation would threaten the cultural and linguistic identity of the indigenous people of Assam. "If the citizenship bill is passed, it would nullify the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC), which is currently under way in Assam," JD (U) national secretary Sanjay Verma said in a statement issued on Saturday. He added that party chief and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is "completely opposed" to the bill. The bill, introduced by the BJP-led government at the Centre, proposes citizenship for religious minorities - effectively, all non-Muslim immigrants - from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. "India is a secular country and citizenship cannot be determined on the basis of religion," said Verma, amid reports of cooling relations between the allies over the seat sharing arrangement in Bihar for the Lok Sabha election next year. "Migrants who entered Assam after March 24, 1971 (the cutoff date on the basis of which the NRC is being updated) should not be granted citizenship," he added.With this, JD (U) joins other BJP allies in their strong opposition to the bill. In Assam, AGP had threatened to walk out of the ruling coalition if the bill were to be passed in Parliament. Another BJP ally, Shiv Sena, also said it would back AGP and oppose the bill in Parliament. In neighbouring Meghalaya, the National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance - of which BJP is a member - had also announced it would officially register its stand against the bill with the Centre. Earlier this month, the Nagaland cabinet also resolved to register its protest against the bill. BJP is part of the ruling alliance in Nagaland.JD (U)'s protest against the bill has come as a shot in the arm for many of the state's organizations who have been up in arms against the proposed amendment. "It comes as a morale booster for several organizations spearheading the movement to save democracy and the secular foundation of our Constitution. We welcome the stand JD (U) has taken despite being BJP's ally. Now, our hope is that JD (U) MPs take up the matter in Parliament and ensure the bill is not passed," Akhil Gogoi, anti-citizenship bill campaigner and adviser of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, said. Referring to the growing opposition to the bill across the political spectrum, Gogoi added, "The message is becoming clear now that this bill is unconstitutional."from Guwahati News, Latest Guwahati News Headlines & Live Updates - Times of India https://ift.tt/2yY8brz