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‘Landmark day for India’: PM Modi after Rajya Sabha passes citizenship bill

After a debate that lasted over 6 hours, Rajya Sabha on Wednesday cleared the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill piloted by Home Minister Amit Shah.

By HT Correspondent | Updated: Dec 11, 2019 21:50 IST
‘Landmark day for India’: PM Modi after Rajya Sabha passes citizenship bill

After a debate that lasted over 6 hours, Rajya Sabha on Wednesday cleared the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill piloted by Home Minister Amit Shah.

Since 12 pm, 44 lawmakers from different parties shared their stand on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

In the 245-member Rajya Sabha, 125 people voted in support of the bill, whereas 105 people voted against it.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 (CAB) was moved in the Rajya Sabha by the Union home minister Amit Shah.

As the debate concluded, Amit Shah addressed Rajya Sabha and answered to questions raised by the members in the house before the voting on the Bill began.

The bill had an easy passage in the Lok Sabha where the BJP-led NDA has majority. The Lower House passed the bill 334-106 after a fierce day-long debate on Monday.

There have been wide-spread protests against the bill in the northeast including Assam and Tripura.

Here are the updates:

09:43 PM IST

Landmark day for India's ethos of compassion and brotherhood, tweets PM Modi

"A landmark day for India and our nation’s ethos of compassion and brotherhood!

Glad that the CAB2019 has been passed in the RajyaSabha. Gratitude to all the MPs who voted in favour of the Bill.

This Bill will alleviate the suffering of many who faced persecution for years," tweets Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Citizenship (Amendment) Bill gets cleared in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

09:38 PM IST

Sonia Gandhi's statement after citizenship bill gets Rajya Sabha approval

Today marks a dark day in the constitutional history of India. The passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill marks the victory of narrow-minded and bigoted forces over India’s pluralism. The Bill fundamentally challenges the idea of India that our forefathers fought for and, in its place, creates a disturbed, distorted and divided India where religion will become a determinant of nationhood.


The Citizenship Amendment Bill is not just an affront to the eternal principles of equality and religious non-discrimination that have been enshrined in our Constitution, but represents a rejection of an India that would be a free nation for all her people, irrespective of religion, region, caste, creed, language or ethnicity. In its design its grave implications, this flawed legislation is antithetical to the spirit of the freedom movement and violative of the soul of our nation.


Ours is a nation that has historically offered refuge and protection to the persecuted of all nations and of all faiths. We are a proud nation that has never been broken by the insecurity of a few, for we have always stood firm with the knowledge that free India can only remain free if her people are liberated, if her voices are heard, and if our institutions, our governments and our political forces dedicate themselves to securing the inalienable rights of the citizens of this country.


It is ironic that the Bill has been pushed through at a time when the country and indeed the whole world are celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.


In this moment of anguish, I would like to reiterate the Congress Party determination to be relentless in our struggle against the BJP’s dangerously divisive and polarizing agenda.

09:00 PM IST

Today marks 'dark day' in constitutional history of India, says Sonia Gandhi

"Today marks 'dark day' in constitutional history of India," says Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as Citizenship (Amendment) Bill gets passed in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

08:51 PM IST

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill clears its big test in Rajya Sabha

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, piloted by Home Minister Amit Shah, clears its big test in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

125 people voted for it, while 105 voted against the Bill in Rajya Sabha

08:08 PM IST

Rajya Sabha votes against sending the citizenship bill to select committee

Rajya Sabha votes against sending the citizenship bill to select committee.

124 people voted against it, whereas 99 gave their nods.

07:53 PM IST

Voting on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha begins

Speaker informs the house that now nobody will get a chance to speak against or for the Bill as the voting on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha begins.


07:42 PM IST

Just like Article 370, Triple Talaq, CAB is not anti-Muslim, says Shah

"Article 370, Triple Talaq Bill are not anti-Muslim. Do women not have rights? Kashmir is peaceful even after abrogation of 370. Likewise, I don't believe Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 is anti-Muslim," Shah tells Rajya Sabha

07:40 PM IST

Neither CAB is anti-Muslim, nor abrogation of Article 370 is, says Amit Shah

"Neither CAB is anti-Muslim, nor abrogation of Article 370 is anti-Muslim, Triple Talaq Bill is not anti-Muslim either. Triple Talaq is the Bill to give rights to crores of Muslim women in the country," Shah told Rajya Sabha, as quoted by ANI


"Article 370 - do only Muslims live in Jammu & Kashmir? No Hindus? No Buddhists? Why is it viewed like that? It has been abrogated for everyone & not only Muslims. How can CAB be anti-Muslim? In this Bill, there is no proposal to touch the citizenship of any Muslim," he adds.

07:37 PM IST

India will never be Muslim-free nation, says Amit Shah

"Javed Ali Khan (Samajwadi Party leader) said that 'We will turn into Muslim-free nation'. Jawed Ali Khan sir, even if you want to turn this country into a Muslim-free nation, it still won't become one, let me tell you that," says Amit Shah


07:19 PM IST

Shah takes a subtle dig at Shiv Sena, asks 'what changed their stand?'


While addressing the Rajya Sabha, Shah took a subtle dig at Shiv Sena for taking back the support.

He said, "Shiv Sena supported the Bill yesterday. They should tell the people of Maharashtra as to what happened within the span of a night that they changed their stand today," according to ANI.

07:14 PM IST

In support of citizenship bill, Amit Shah quotes Manmohan Singh to RS

Amit Shah Shah also quoted a 2003 request by former prime minister Manmohan Singh to deputy prime minister LK Advani when he, as a member of parliament, highlighted the treatment of refugees and persecution of minorities in countries such as Bangladesh. Dr Singh wanted a liberal approach in granting citizenship to them.


“We are doing what he said,” Amit Shah said.

07:10 PM IST

Rohingyas not included in the Bill because they don't come to India directly, says Shah

"It was asked that why were Rohingyas not included in the Bill? Rohingyas don't come to India directly, they go to Bangladesh and then infiltrate into India from there," says Amit Shah, according to ANI.

07:06 PM IST

Why did Congress agree to Partition? asks Amit Shah

"The entire country knows that the reason behind Partition was Jinnah and it was done due to his demand. But all I am asking is why did Congress agree to it? Why was it done on the basis of religion?" asks Amit Shah during Citizenship (Amendment) Bill debate in Rajya Sabha, as quoted by ANI

06:58 PM IST

"During UPA govt, the then Rajasthan govt wrote to then HM Chidamabaram..." says Shah

"During UPA government, the then Rajasthan government wrote to then Home Minister P Chidambaram stating outstanding issue of large no. of Pakistani refugees from Hindu and Sikh communities. 13,000 people from two religions only were benefited. Whereas, we have included refugees from 6 religions," says Amit Shah


"But, no one will say anything because whatever the Congress does is secularism. Till when will you fool people?" says Shah, as quoted by ANI

06:55 PM IST

"Muslims not included for giving citizenship because..." says Amit Shah

"Equality guaranteed in Article 14 does not prohibit law based on reasonable classification," Amit Shah tells Rajya Sabha, as quoted by PTI.


"Muslims not included for giving citizenship because proposed law is for persecuted minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan," he adds.


"During Congress rule, 13,000 Hindus, Sikhs migrants from Pakistan given relief and citizenship."

First published: Dec 11, 2019 10:38 IST