New Delhi: In the Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah while responding to questions raised by the opposition, says the Citizenship Amendment Bill is about granting citizenship and not about taking it away. As protests continue against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which was cleared by the Lok Sabha on Monday amid vehement opposition, the bill was introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha this afternoon. While the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) enjoy an overwhelming majority in the lower house that helped it 334 votes in favour of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, and 106 against in the lower house, the party's hold on the Rajya Sabha is wobblier. With a current strength of 240, the majority mark in the upper house is 121. The NDA, which includes parties like AIADMK, Janata Dal-United and the Akali Dal, has 116 members and expects the support of 14 others, taking its numbers to 130.
Violent protests have erupted in northeastern states against the bill, which seeks to make it easier for non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to become Indian citizens.
The controversial legislation provides that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians fleeing persecution in Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan can be granted citizenship.
Here are the Highlights of the debate on Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha:
Dec 11, 2019 20:58 (IST)
Citizenship Bill clears parliament with 117 votes, soon to be law amid protests
Dec 11, 2019 20:42 (IST)
Citizenship Amendment Bill against spirit of constitution of India: Jyotiraditya Scindia
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) is against the spirit of the Constitution and also India's centuries-old philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam", Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Wednesday. Criticising the Modi government for bringing the legislation, he said not only the Congress, but several other parties were opposed to the bill which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan after facing religious persecution.
The architect of our Constitution Babasaheb Ambedkar had said people living in India should be looked at as citizens without taking into consideration their caste or religion.
"Taking this into account, the CAB is against the basic spirit of the Constitution given that Indian citizens had never been viewed with lens of their faith, the former Union Minister told reporters, reported PTI.
Dec 11, 2019 20:03 (IST)
Rajya Sabha votes against sending the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to a select panel.
Dec 11, 2019 19:52 (IST)
Congress Leaders Echoed Pak On Article 370, Citizenship Bill: Amit Shah
Dec 11, 2019 19:39 (IST)
I appeal to all to support the bill brought for the persecuted: Amit Shah
"In 2013-2014, the amount meant for minorities welfare was Rs 35 crore. It was increased to Rs 47 crore in 2019-2020. I request you to accept the bill that PM Modi has brought for the welfare of minorities whp have faced persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, says Amit Shah.
Dec 11, 2019 19:33 (IST)
"In Pakistan, Hindu and Sikh women are abducted and are forcefully converted to Islam. Of the 428 temples, only 20 are left. 3.7% religious minorities are left in Pakistan. After Mujibur Rehman government fell, religious minorities faced tremendous tortures. Bangladeshi Hindus had to take refuge in India," says Amit Shah.
Dec 11, 2019 19:29 (IST)
Pakistan, 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
Dec 11, 2019 19:08 (IST)
"In Bengal, for immersing of Durga idols, people have to get permission from the High Court. The administration didn't give them permission. People are talking about Nazi Germany. But Indian is a democracy. We all have rights in the country. Only during Emergency, democratic rights were suspended for a while," says Amit Shah.
Dec 11, 2019 18:55 (IST)
"We should respecct the Nehru-Liaquat Pact," says Amit Shah on Citizenship Bill
"The spirit of the Nehru-Liaquat Pact was not implemented by our neighbours. We should honour the agreement. Modi government believes we should respect and help the persecuted from these countries," says Amit Shah.
Dec 11, 2019 18:54 (IST)
Citizenship Amendment Bill doesn't hurt Article 14: Amit Shah
"We are taking in minorities from all countries where women are in danger, where people are in danger, hence I have brought this amendment. This bill doesn't hurt article 14 or any other articles. We have made laws and we know it will be accepted in the court as well. Congress is a weird party. We are not confused. When P Chidambaram was home minister, Rajasthan chief minister wrote to asking about 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 away anyone's citizenship. We have given Indian muslims so much respect. This is just to give citizenship to the affected minorities from these countries," says Amit Shah
Dec 11, 2019 18:43 (IST)
Citizenship Amendment Bill: Amit Shah speaks in the Rajya Sabha
"Our work is to solve the nation's problems. And then you say we are trying to distract people. The state religion of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan is Islam. We are bringing in people from 6 religions but people are only asking about muslims. In these countries, muslims are not minorities. So, 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. Muslims have been given citizenship under Modi regime and there is provision for even muslims to apply for citizenship, says Amit Shah.
Dec 11, 2019 18:38 (IST)
Citizenship Amendment Bill is not a political thing, says Amit Shah
"No elections are happening now. No elections are going to happen tomorrow. 4 and a half years are left for the next general elections. This is not a political thing. We have to address the problems of the country, how long will we not address it. Partition happened on basis of religion, and that's why the bill has been introduced. Minorities have been respected in India, but our 3 neighbours didn't. We have had many muslim leaders, Election Commissioner, President, Deputy-President, in the country," says Amit Shah.
