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Citizenship Bill gets Lok Sabha nod, Rajya Sabha test next

Union home minister Amit Shah tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday. The bill was cleared by the Cabinet last week.

By HT Correspondent | Updated: Dec 10, 2019 00:21 IST
Citizenship Bill gets Lok Sabha nod, Rajya Sabha test next
Union home minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha amid protests by the opposition parties.

The bill proposes to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, and seeks to grant citizenship to illegal non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who allegedly suffered religious persecution there and returned to India before December 31, 2014.

If passed in the Lok Sabha, the bill will become the first instance in the country's history when citizenship will be granted on religious basis.

Responding to criticism from the opposition leaders over the bill being divisive in nature, the home minister targeted the Congress and blamed it for the Partition on the country on religious lines.

“If this bill violates Article 14 (equality before law), then why do minorities get special privileges in this country,” Shah said, drawing sharp reactions from the Opposition.

A headcount carried out at the end of the debate on parliament’s legislative competence voted overwhelmingly - 293 in support vs 82 against - in favour of introducing the bill.

12:51 PM IST

'Bill against Article 14 of Constitution': TMC's Saugata Roy

Prof Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress says the bill is against Article 14 of the Constitution. Says it is divisive in nature. This law is against everything our founding fathers including Dr.Ambedkar envisioned."

12:43 PM IST

'Bill violates basic structural features of Constitution': RSP member

N. K. Premachandran, Member of Parliament of Revolutionary Socialist Party, said, 'The Bill violates the basic structural features of the constitution envisioned in the preamble as entitlement of citizenship based on religion is against the secular fabric of the country."

12:31 PM IST

'Bill not even .001% against minorities': Amit Shah

Amit Shah says, "This Bill is not even .001% against minorities in the country".

Adds, "I will answer all questions on the Bill. Tab House se walkout mat karna (then do not walk out of the House)

12:30 PM IST

'Nothing but targeted legislation against minorty people: Adhir Chowdhury

Protesting against the bill, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "It is nothing but a targeted legislation over minority people of our country".

12:25 PM IST

Union home minister Amit Shah seeks to table Citizenship Amendment Bill

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tables Citizenship Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha

12:13 PM IST

Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

Union home minister Amit Shah is in Lok Sabha

11:58 AM IST

AIUDF lawmaker Ajmal protests against CAB 2019

All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MP Badruddin Ajmal staged protest in Parliament premises against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

<p>AIUDF lawmaker Ajmal protests against CAB 2019</p>
AIUDF Member of Parliament from Dhubri, Badruddin Ajmal, protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, in Parliament premises, Dec 9, 2019.
11:44 AM IST

Manish Tiwari raises issue of waiver of education loans

Manish Tewari, Congress MP raised the issue of waiver of education loans during the question hour in the Lok Sabha, reports ANI.

"Unemployment rate today is at a 45-year-old high. Given current economic slowdown, will the government consider maintaining central database where they've information that somebody who availed education loan has got employment or not?"

11:39 AM IST

TMC member gives notice over changing name of West Bengal to Bengal

TMC MP Santanu Sen has given Zero hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over the name change of West Bengal to 'Bengal.' The West Bengal Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution to change the state's name in July, 2018.

In July this year, the Centre had refused Banerjee's demand saying that a constitutional amendment is needed to change the name of a state.

11:18 AM IST

Congress' Shashi Tharoor gives notice to oppose CAB at introduction stage

Senior Congress leader and Thiruvanthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor, has submitted a notice in the Lok Sabha to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill at the introduction stage on the grounds that it "violates" the fundamental right to equality, reports news agency PTI.

Tharoor submitted the notice this morning under Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.

11:15 AM IST

'Bill against the Constitution', says Dhubri MP Badruddin Ajmal

Badruddin Ajmal, Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri in Assam, says the Citizenship Amendment Bill is against the Constitution. Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "This Bill is against the Constitution and against Hindu-Muslim unity. We will reject this Bill and Opposition is with us on it. We will not let this Bill pass."

11:04 AM IST

Union home minister Amit Shah arrives in Parliament

Union home minister Amit Shah arrives in Parliament. He will introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in the lower house today.

11:00 AM IST

IUML protests against CAB in Parliament premises

Indian Union Muslim League party MPs hold a protest in front of Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament premises against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019.

10:51 AM IST

IUML gives notice in Lok Sabha opposing CAB

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MP PK Kunhalikutty has given Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha opposing introduction of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2019.

10:50 AM IST

Protest against CAB in Agartala

A protest is being held in Tripura's capital Agartala against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019. North-eastern student organisations, civil society groups and opposition parties have been protesting the government’s move, saying it will lead to an influx of religious minorities and hurt the interests of indigenous communities in the region.

<p>Protest against CAB in Agartala</p>
People protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Tripura's capital Agartala, Dec 9, 2019

First published: Dec 09, 2019 10:30 IST