BJP to ignore protest, CAB on Feb 12

The BJP has decided to ignore the protest against the CAB in Assam and viewed it a urban middle class phenomenon fuelled by partisan media and have decided to pass the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) on February 12.

Multiple sources of the top BJP confirmed the development saying that through a ppopular state budget and massive show of strength on the Prime Minister's visit on February 8 shall be used to sidetep the remaining opposition.

The NDA government firmed up plans to bring the Bill after it opened negotiations with two major parties – Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) – seeking support to pass the Bill, said sources. Both the parties are likely to abstain from voting making it easier for the ruling party.

The NDA floor managers have so far managed to woo several smaller regional parties and are confident enough to sail through in the Rajya Sabha.

A senior BJP MP from Assam also confirmed the development and said that his Party has managed the numbers and is going to get the Bill passed in Rajya Sabha.

For the CAB at this moment there 123 votes and against the CAB there are 103 votes.

Meanwhile Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People's Party (NPP) President Conrad Sangma told newsmen at Shillong that his party would decide at an "appropriate time" on snapping ties with the NDA government over the the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

"We will decide at an appropriate time, if the (Central) government goes ahead with the Bill in the Rajya Sabha," Sangma said responding to questions on the demand of several groups to snap ties with the BJP over the amendment Bill.

The tribal-centric NPP is supporting the BJP-led government in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. While the BJP is supporting the NPP-led Meghalaya