New Delhi : Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to table the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha at 12 noon on Wednesday (December 11) despite strong protests by opposition and several groups in North East and other parts of the country.
The Bill that seeks to give Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh was passed with a thumping majority in Lok Sabha on Monday night (December 9) after six hours of intense debate. In Lok Sabha, the Bill was passed with 311 MPs voting in its favour and 80 against.
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday slammed the BJP, accusing the party of trying to divide the country on religion lines. Azad, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said: “There are about 13 like-minded parties in the Rajya Sabha… I have met them and they will all vote against CAB Bill.” Azad remarked that the BJP-led government at the Centre was least bothered about addressing concerns around the economy and issue of price rise and is only trying to divide the nation.
There are 240 MPs in the Rajya Sabha as five seats are lying vacant, therefore, the BJP-led government at the Centre needs the support of merely 121 MPs to pass the bill. Since the BJP has 83 Rajya Sabha MPs, it will need the support of 38 more MPs.
In North East, massive protests erupted on Tuesday as various tribal groups and youth organisations joined hands to register their opposition against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. In Tripura, four policemen and some protesters were injured during clashes between the protesters and police. The Tripura government on Monday ordered to suspend Internet and social media services in the entire state for 48 hours. Violent protests were witnessed in Assam too where the protesters clashed with security forces near the Secretariat and Assembly buildings in Guwahati.
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BJP parliamentary meeting ends. The meeting was held ahead of voting in the Rajya Sabha over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
“The CAB is a attempt by Modi-Shah Govt to ethnically cleanse the North East. It is a criminal attack on the North East, their way of life and the idea of India. I stand in solidarity with the people of the North East and am at their service,” tweeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary party meeting at Parliament library.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 will be introduced in Rajya Sabha by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at 12 noon on Wednesday (December 11).
BJP’s former ally Shiv Sena supported the bill in the Lok Sabha, but the Sena (3MPs) on Tuesday (December 10) hinted that it may not support the Bill in Rajya Sabha.
Among the Opposition leaders who will speak during Citizenship Amendment Bill debate in Rajya Sabha, are Kapil Sibal from Congress, Derek O’Brien from Trinamool Congress and Ramgopal Yadav from Samajwadi Party.
The voting is scheduled in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The current strength of Rajya Sabha is 240 MPs and BJP needs 121 votes in favour of the bill to get it passed in Upper House.
After nearly six-hour debate, the Lok Sabha passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) with a thumping majority on Monday with 311 MPs voting in its favour and 80 against.
Bureau Report
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