After backing the Congress’ demand for a JPC probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal, the NDA Government major ally Shiv Sena has again joined the Opposition ranks in opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

Sena’s decision to oppose the Bill comes amid reports that the members of Congress, TMC, SP, and Left parties have given note of dissent to the final report of the JPC on the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which will be submitted in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Sena has taken the decision after the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) appealed to it to oppose the legislation, party leader Sanjay Raut said in a statement.

“We are determined to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament,” Raut said.

With the Lok Sabha polls around the corner, the Shiv Sena has adopted a more aggressive posture against the BJP, with whom it has shared an uneasy relationship over the past four years.

The people of Assam, irrespective of their caste, religion and creed oppose the proposed legislation, Raut said.

The Bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act 1955 to provide citizenship to illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, who are of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian origin.

The Assamese and other indigenous groups in Assam fear that the passage of the Bill would make the State a dumping ground for fresh waves of migrants, specifically “Hindu Bangladeshis”.

They also feel that the Bill would make redundant the exercise of NRC, which lists those who have come to Assam before March 24, 1971, as mandated by the Assam Accord.

The Opposition parties said that they had objection to the Bill which they alleged links religion to citizenship. “This is the basic objection. So, delink religion from citizenship issue. This is against the spirit of our civilisation, culture and of our Constitution. Citizenship can’t be linked with State, religion, caste, creed and be country specific. It should be universal,” said a dissenting member note.