Amit Shah speaks during Citizenship Bill debate in Rajya Sabha.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill passed Parliament today after being cleared by the Rajya Sabha, with 125 voting for it and 99 against, even as violent protests erupted in several parts of the Northeast. The controversial legislation was cleared by the Lok Sabha two days earlier with the support of as many as 334 MPs. Home Minister Amit Shah has tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha, on Monday, passed the Citizenship Bill with a majority of 311 votes against 80 votes where 391 members were present and voted. The Bill seeks to give citizenship to refugees from the Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
Here are the highlights on developments Citizenship Amendment Bill
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by the Rajya Sabha, calling it "a landmark day for India and our nation's ethos of compassion and brotherhood". The BJP government on Wednesday secured parliamentary approval for the controversial citizenship law that promises citizenship to non-Muslims from neighbouring countries.
Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut says the party has boycotted the voting on Citizenship Bill in Rajya Sabha: News Agency ANI.
Voting for the amendments to Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 are currently underway in the House.
Voting in Rajya Sabha on sending Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 to select parliamentary panel.
Pak and Congress speaking the same language on citizenship bill: Amit Shah
"Pakistan and Congress are speaking the same language. The statements given by Pakistan are the same as those given by Congress today. Look at statements made yesterday by the Pakistan PM Imran Khan and see what the Congress leaders said today. Why did Congress oppose the Enemy-Property Bill?" asks Amit Shah.
Maharashtra wants to know why Sena changed their stance overnight: Amit Shah
"Shiv Sena supported the bill in Lok Sabha. Not just us, even Maharashtra wants to know why they changed their stance overnight. The BSP MP asked us why we have kept the deadline as 2014. We first introduced the bill in 2015 and hence the deadline is 2014, says Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.
Uproar in Rajya Sabha as Amit Shah quotes Mamata Banerjee, who had raised the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators in West Bengal in Lok Sabha in 2005.
When Chidambaram was home minister, Rajasthan chief minister, wrote him a letter on asking refugees from Hindu and Sikh community. And congress has allowed 13k people only from these two religions but there was no problem there. because congress is secular! how long will you fool people? I want to tell the minorities that they are absolutely safe here. We are not taking anyone's citizenship. How will this affect Indian Muslims? we have given them so much respect. this is just to give citizenship to the affected minorities from these countries.
Our work is to solve the nation's problems. After the Delhi Samjhauta, constitutions were made, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, all these countries have their religion as Islam. We are bringing in people from 6 religions but people are asking why no Muslims? These countries, Muslims are not minorities there and how can they be persecuted if the state religion is Islam. There is little chance that they are persecuted if state religion is Islam and still we can also give citizenship to Muslims. 500+ Muslims have been given citizenship under the PM Modi regime in the last 5 years. and there is provision for even Muslims to apply for citizenship.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill is for rectifying the historic wrong: Amit Shah
"Remember, when you laugh, crores are watching you laugh at their plight. The bill is for rectifying the historic wrong," says Amit Shah tells opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Citizenship Amendment Bill is not a political thing: Amit Shah
There are no elections tomorrow, this is not a political thing, we have to address the problems of the country, how long will we not address it. Laughing isn't bad, but the crores of people will see that we are laughing at their troubles. Partition happened on the basis of religion, and that's why the bill has been introduced.
Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: If this bill was brought 50 years ago, then the situation had not been so severe today.
Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha
Some members have said that the bill is unconstitutional and questioned its need. Some of them also said that there is a hidden agenda for political polarisation. I will answer all the questions. First, I would like to give a brief historical background to it.
Citizenship Bill Protests
Violent protests have broken out in Guwahati and parts of Assam and the North East over the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill tabled before the Rajya Sabha by Home Minister Amit Shah this afternoon. The Indian Army has sent two columns, each consisting of 70 soldiers and one or two officers, to Tripura and a third is on standby in Assam. A Police QRT (Quick Response Team) has been dispatched to Assam's Dibrugarh district and a total of 5,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the North East. The Assam government has also mobile and internet services in 10 districts.
"Don't convert India into a Jurassic Republic with 2 dinosaurs": Kapil Sibal
"I do not understand which history book the Home Minister has read and is quoting, when he said Congress was responsible for partition. It was not the Congress which supported the two-nation theory. It was VD Savarkar who supported it. In fact Ambedkar had said, that Jinnah and Savarkar, instead of opposing each other, stand united on this issue that (pre-Independence) India was actually two nations. Therefore, I appeal to the Home Minister to withdraw the allegation made on the Congress. If this bill is passed today, then it will live up to what Jinnah stood for," says Kapil Sibal in the Rajya Sabha.
Sanjay Raut speaks on Citizenship Bill"I have been hearing since yesterday that those who do not support this Bill are anti-national and those who support it are nationalist."
Army Deployed In Parts Of Tripura Amid Citizenship Bill ProtestsThe Army has been deployed in Tripura and Assam as a fierce debate rages over the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha today. Sources said two columns have been dispatched to the Kanchanpur and Manu areas of the state, while a third is on standby in Bongaingon in Assam. One column consists of at least 70 soldiers and is led by one, usually two, officers.
P Chidambaram in Rajya Sabha"This government is ramming through this Bill to advance its Hindutva agenda. This is a sad day. I am absolutely clear that this law will be struck off."
Judiciary will struck it down: P Chidambaram
"You think this will stop here? This will go to the judges," P Chidambaram said.
"But judges and lawyers are not elected, but they will finally take the decision. This will be a slap in the face of parliamentarians, because I am absolutely certain they will strike down this bill," he added.
CAB Protest: Students Clash With Police Near Assam SecretariatLarge group of students fought a pitched battle with the police near the state secretariat, police said.
:Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha "Business Advisory Committee has decided to allocate six hours to discussion on Citizenship Amendment Bill. There are 48 speakers participating in the discussion," Harivansh, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha.
Government works on 3 things – Jhooth, Jhansa aur Jumla: Derek O' Brien "This government works on 3 things - Jhooth, Jhansa aur Jumla," Derek O' Brien.
"Bill Will Be Written In Golden Letters, In Pakistan,": Derek O’ Brien"Today the Prime Minister said that this bill will be written in golden letters. Yes, it would be, but in Pakistan, on the grave of Pakistan's Father of the Nation - Mohammad Ali Jinnah," Says Derek O Brien.
Don't Disagree To Agree All The Time: JP Nadda"Closing my comments, I would say that we are a democracy... we can agree to disagree, but we should not disagree to agree all the time. There should be some agreement, sometimes."
Purely for minorities in Pakistan: JP NaddaBJP working president JP Nadda has said that a picture is being presented as though India is discriminating within our own people "that is absolutely incorrect."
"This is purely for minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It has nothing to do with Indians at all, so there is no question of going against the tenets of our constitution," Mr Nadda said.
Sardar Patel must be angry with PM Modi: Anand SharmaIn our religion, we believe in rebirth,and that we meet our elders. So if Sardar Patel meets Modi ji then he will be very angry with him, Gandhi ji will ofcourse be sad, but Patel will be indeed very angry. #CitizenshipAmendmentBill
Assault On Constitution Of India: Anand Sharma"I am convinced that this bill is an assault at the very foundation of the constitution of India. It hurts the very soul of the Constitution of India. It goes against the very preamble of the constitution," Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha.
"We feel it is unconstitutional", Anand Sharma on Citizenship Bill"We cannot find ourselves able to align with this bill. We feel it is unconstitutional," Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha.
Congress' Anand Sharma starts his speech"Me and my party do not agree with this bill and its contents," said Anand Sharma.
Think about lakhs of people in minorities: Amit ShahAmit Shah urged the opposition to "think for those lakhs and crores of people who are living in horrific conditions."
"This bill will help them live a life of dignity, live with freedom and liberty. It gives hope to all these people... this will come as a blessing for them," he said.
Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: "Shall we open the borders for everyone" "What are some people saying? That we should allow all Muslims, who are the majority in these nations, a citizenship too? Shall we open our borders to whoever wants to come? How can this be? How can a country function like this?" Amit Shah.
"No Muslims Need To Worry": Amit Shah "No Muslim in India needs to worry due to this Bill. Don't get scared if someone tries to scare you. This is Narendra Modi's Govt working according to constitution ,minorities will get full protection," says Amit Shah.
ANI
Muslims In India Need Not Worry: Amit Shah In ParliamentThe minister said that attempts are being made to spread misinformation that this bill is against Muslim community. The minister further presented his case that the bill is only for minority communities of neighbouring countries and it has nothing to do with Muslims in India.
Some playing politics over bill: Amit ShahAmit Shah said that there are some people who are trying to play politics over the bill. "I urge them not to," he said.
Amit Shah In Parliament
"Where will these people (minorities from neighbouring countries) go? Should they continue to live in the way they are currently? Is that not a violation of their human rights?"
"Minorities not given chance to live as equals in neighbouring countries": HMIt is unfortunate that the minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have not been given a chance to live as equals in society in their country.
Minorities were not taken care of in neighboring countries: Home Minister Bitter truth says that minorities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan were not taken care of, says Amit Shah.
Citizenship Bill Tabled In Rajya Sabha
Home Minister Amit Shah table the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill In Rajya Sabha.
Fresh Anti-CAB Protests Erupt In AssamFresh protests have erupted in the state on Wednesday. To tackle the situation, the police had to fire rubber bullets and resort to lathi charge on the protestors in Dibrugarh district, police said.
A journalist was injured in stone pelting by a mob and the police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them near a polytechnic institute in Dibrugarh town, police said.
PTI
Bill to be tabled at 12 pm"The Citizenship Amendment Bill will be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 12 pm today, and it will be passed in the house with comfortable majority," Prahlad Joshi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister, after BJP parliamentary party meeting.
"Parties speaking Pakistan's language": PM Modi In BJP Parliamentary MeetSources told NDTV that PM Narendra Modi spoke on Citizenship Amendment Bill in BJP's Parliamentary party meet. He said that "Some leaders are using same language as that of Pakistan on Citizenship Bill". He asked the partymen to take the same to the people.
Rahul Gandhi Tweets"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."
Party Representatives For The Debate 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.
ANI