Amit Shah hints at changes in Citizenship Act in wake of Northeast protests

Hinting that there could be productive discussions on some of the requested changes in the controversial Citizenship Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that he will talk to Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on the matter.

Shah was addressing a public rally in Jharkhand's Giridih on Saturday when he said that he wanted to assure the people of Assam and other states of the Northeast that their culture, language, social identity and political rights will be not be affected by the Citizenship Act. The Home Minister added that since several politicians from the Northeast, including Meghalaya CM Sangma and his cabinet ministers, have expressed their request to change certain provisions in the Act, a meeting after Christmas could be held to figure out a "constructive solution" for Meghalaya.

"Yesterday, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma and his cabinet ministers met me to discuss the issue. They said there is a problem in Meghalaya. I tried to make them understand that there is no issue. Yet, they requested me to change something (in the act). I have asked Sangma Ji to come to me when he is free after Christmas and we can think of a constructive a solution for Meghalaya. Nobody has anything to fear," he said. 

(Inputs from DNA India)