New Delhi:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday moved the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, saying that Indian Muslims “were, are and will remain Indian citizen". Moving the bill that provides Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, Shah said minorities in the three nations do not get equal rights. The population of minorities in these countries has reduced by as much as 20 per cent, either by way of elimination or having migrated to India, he said, adding that these migrants did not get rights to jobs and education.
The bill provides citizenship to these persecuted minorities, Shah said. Several MPs of opposition parties moved a motion to send the Citizenship Amendment Bill to the select committee of the Upper House. The bill and the opposition motion will be put to vote after a debate on it.
Here are all the LIVE updates:
UPDATE: Parliament approves Citizenship Amendment Bill as Rajya Sabha votes in favour with 125 Ayes, 99 Noes
With 125 votes, Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP, on being asked if they have boycotted the voting: Yes, Shiv Sena has boycotted the voting.
Two amendments moved by Trinamool Congress in Rajya Sabha rejected.
Motion to send bill to Select Panel of Rajya Sabha REJECTED by 124-99.
Citizenship Amendment Bill not to move in Select Committee.
Parliament: Voting in Rajya Sabha on sending #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 to select panel pic.twitter.com/qvtMAzwcYX
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
MPs to vote on motion to send Citizenship Amendment Bill to a Select Committee of Rajya Sabha
Government must accept that there is fear amongst minorities: Digvijay Singh to Amit Shah.
Christians are being mistreated in Pakistan. They are forced to live in extreme circumstances, says Amit Shah
Rohingyas don't come to India directly, they come via Bangladesh: Amit 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.
At times, I find the comments made by Congress party leaders and Pakistan similar: Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.
Home Minister Amit Shah, in Rajya Sabha, on Citizenship Amendment Bil l2019: 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.
Home Minister Amit Shah, in Rajya Sabha, on Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019: 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.
Shiv Sena supported the bill in Lok Sabha yesterday, I want to know what happened overnight that they have now changed their stand: Amit Shah
India is a democratic country, we never stopped the process: 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? Amit Shah.
Congress accepted Jinnah's demand of partition: Home Minister Amit Shah.
Why did Congress accepted partition? Asks Home Minister Amit Shah.
Citizenship bill not to snatch anyone's Indian citizenship; Muslims have no need to fear or worry: Home Minister
'Don’t politicise the Bil. Government is not doing vote bank politics. We get mandate on our popularity', says Amit Shah.
Can followers of Islam in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan be called minority? No. When the religion of the State is Islam, then, chances of persecution of Muslims is lesser.
Muslims not included for giving citizenship because proposed law is for persecuted minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan: Home Minister.
'Bill has 6 religious minorities mentioned. No appreciation for that. But surprised being criticized for not mentioning Muslims:' Amit Shah.
Many times this country has given citizenship. Earlier, when the previous government gave citizenship to the people of Sri Lanka, why did they not give Bangladeshis at that time? When people came from Uganda they were given citizenship. Why not to the people of Bangladesh and Pakistan?: Amit Shah.
If this bill was brought 50 years ago, then the situation had not been so severe today: Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.
Under the Nehru-Liaquat agreement, both sides agreed that the people of minority societies would be given equality like the majority, their business, expression and freedom of worship would also be ensured, this promise was made to the minorities: Amit Shah.
'This Bill is inevitable, this Bill is a consequence of the partition that was done on religious lines’, says Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.
Modi government is not here only to govern but also to change the face of the country: Amit Shah.
There was no need for this bill had Partition of India not taken place in 1947, says Home Minister Amit Shah.
Curfew declared in Guwahati from 6.15pm tonight to 7am tomorrow: Sources
The bill has been thoroughly reviewed and passed by the legal department, says Ravi Shankar Prasad at Rajya Sabha.
‘Why choose only 3 countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan & Bangladesh)?’, Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Union Minister Ravishankar Prasad addresses Rajya Sabha.
Persecution Faced By Muslim Women In Afghanistan Is Unthinkable: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Government says they don't have authentic record of persecution on religious grounds: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad addresses Rajya Sabha on Citizenship Amendment Bill.
"What about the Lankan Tamils, Ahmadiyyas, and others who have been left out. The government is trying to hide the real agenda - to create a Hindu nation," says CPM's KK Ragesh opposing the bill.
Supreme Court has held in Hans Muller case that classification amongst foreigners does not run afoul of Article 14: Bhupender Yadav, BJP leader
Everyone is aware of persecution of religious minorities in neighbouring countries. But the Congress government did nothing to address the plight of these people: BJP's Bhupendra Yadav
Our country is governed by the Constitution and the Constitution is based on the principle of equality. We expect that Shiv Sena will keep this in mind while voting on #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 in Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat
LIVE: https://t.co/fYJjyOqO4l pic.twitter.com/ZJg38ECZWp
— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) December 11, 2019
Religious persecution happens in India too. With this bill, you also need to stop religious persecution of Christians and other minority groups in India as well, says Ronald Sapa Tlau Congress.
Religious groups in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have been singled out and oppressed. As far as Ahmadiyyas or Shias are concerned, they would prefer going to Iran or Bahrain to seek refuge, says BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
The population of Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians and Parsis living in Pakistan has seen a sharp decline since 1952: Subramanian Swamy.
Home Minister Amit Shah should be applauded for bringing-in the bill: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
1) Include Sri Lanka tamils
2) CAB Should not be linked to NRC
3) Allay fears of Muslim community: BJD's Sasmit Patra.
BJD supports Modi government's CAB, says people should not see this bill through a communal prism.
JDS opposes Modi government's CAB, says this bill aims to divide people.
YSR Congress supports Modi government’s Citizenship Amendment Bill
CPI opposes Modi government's Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha. |
I am opposing this Bill as it is against the Constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. It is against the Preamble of the Constitution. It is against the India of the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh, says Sanjay Singh, AAP in Rajya Sabha, on Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019.
Government is trying to divide India, 'Vasudeva Kutumbakam' is the real essence of India: Sanjay Singh.
Aam Aadmi Party opposes CAB
Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh opposes CAB in Rajya Sabha.
Chandrababu Naidu's TDP supports Modi government's CAB.
Vaiko, MDMK in Rajya Sabha, on Citizenship Ammendment Bill 2019: If this obnoxious, abominable, undemocratic, unreasonable, unpardonable, unjustifiable, unconstitutional Bill is passed today in this Council of State, it will become a black chapter in the annals of this Upper House.
Naga People's Front supports Modi government's CAB.
This bill should be thrown into the Bay of Bengal: Vaiko in MDMK.
CAB is an assault on our country's equality, secularism: Vaiko in Rajya Sabha.
We have not done politics of appeasement: Saroj Pandey of BJP.
Don't convert the Indian republic into a jurassic republic with two dinosaurs: Kapil Sibal
“How will you prove that a person is persecuted...there is no law to prove that": Congress' Kapil Sibal on Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Rise above politics. You are destroying the future of this country: Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.
Savarkar and Jinnah were in agreement on two-nation theory: Kapil Sibal
Two Nation theory was perpetuated by sarvarkar, not by Congress: Kapil Sibal.
SAD's Sardar Balwinder Singh Bhunder supports Modi government's Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Mir Mohammad Fayaz of PDP opposes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Hishey lachungpa of SDF opposes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Satish Chandra Mishra, BSP: Our party opposes the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019. Why are you violating Article 14 by excluding Muslims? Muslims being excluded is the sole problem of this entire act.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD says Citizenship (Amendment) Bill a great blunder.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Vijila Sathyananth of AIADMK speaks in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
KJ Alphons of BJP speaks in support of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
P Chidambaram, Congress 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.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Biswajit Daimary, Bodoland People's Front, Assam in Rajya Sabha: We support the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
P Chidambaram of Congress attacks Modi govt in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Birendra Prasad Baishya of AGP says Assamese language and culture are facing a threat from Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
In support of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: JD(U), AIADMK, Swapan Dasgupta (nominated)
Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: Trinamool Congress, DMK, Communist Party (Marxist), TRS, Samajwadi Party.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Dr. K Keshav Rao,Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Rajya Sabha: This bill challenges the very idea of India and negates every ideal of justice. This bill should be withdrawn.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Opposing the Bill TK Rangarajan of CPM accused the BJP of dividing the nation and declared that the party MPs will oppose the bill in the House.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
TK Rangarajan of CPM speaks in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
TRS opposes Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
K Keshava Rao of TRS speaks in Rajya Sabha.
Janata Dal (United) supports CAB
The Janata Dal (United) is supporting the Citisenship (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Ram Chandra Prasad Singh says that the bill is not against the minorities.
"We support this bill. The bill is very clear, it gives citizenship to persecuted minorities from three of our neigbouring countries, but here debate is being done on our Indian Muslim brothers," Ram Chandra Prasad Singh says.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
JD(U) MP Ram Chandra Prasad Singh speaks in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Javed Ali Khan,Samajwadi Party in Rajya Sabha: Our Govt through this Citizenship Amendment Bill and NRC is trying to fulfill the dream of Jinnah. Remember, in 1949 Sardar Patel had said 'we are laying the foundation of a truly secular democracy in India'.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
NRC and CAB will serve to fulfil Jinnah's dream, says SP MP Javed Ali Khan.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Javed Ali Khan of Samajwadi Party speaks in Rajya Sabha.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
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.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
SR Balasubramoniyan of AIADMK says his party supports the Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Derek O Brien, TMC in Rajya Sabha: I read that PM said this will be written in golden letters. I will tell you where it will be written, it will be written on grave of the father of the nation, but which father of the nation? In Karachi, on Jinnah's grave.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
60 per cent of those put in detention camps are Bengali Hindus: Derek O'Brien
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien: 84 years ago, Nazi Germany passed a law and today what we are doing the same.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress takes on Amit Shah.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha said to then Deputy PM Advani that we should have more liberal approach in granting citizenship to minorities of Bangladesh. So, we are following what he said: JP Nadda
JP Nadda
India has protected minorities and Pakistan persecuted minorities.
Ministry of Home Affairs extends Inner Line Permit (ILP) to Manipur and other parts of the North East.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
BJP’s JP Nadda stands in defence of Bill, says Anand Sharma's arguments irrelevant.
Anand Sharma, Congress in Rajya Sabha
In 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.
Rajya Sabha Latest Updates
"Whenever there have been amendments, religion has never been made a basis. Article 14 ensures equality before law. Citizenship Amendment Bill fails the constitutionality test," Anand Sharma.
Citizenship Amendment Bill Debate
There will be no lunch break today in Rajya Sabha today.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
We have given shelter to people who came over from Pakistan post partition. Two among them have been our PMs. Dr Manmohan Singh and IK Gujral: Anand Sharma
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Anand Sharma attacks Amit Shah: The two-nation theory was an idea of Veer Savarkar. Congress never propagated this theory.
Congress' Anand Sharma demands that the Citizenship Bill be sent to Parliamentary committee.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Anand Sharma, Congress in Rajya Sabha: The bill that you have brought is an assault on the very foundation of the Indian constitution, it is an assault on the Republic of India. It hurts the soul of India. It is against our constitution and democracy. It fails the morality test.
Undemocratic, Unconstitutional: Congress’ Anand Sharma slams Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Amit Shah
In 1985, Assam accord happened. There is a provision in clause 6 to protect indigenous culture of the state. I want to assure that NDA Government through committee to supervise clause 6 will protect rights of Assam. All Assam Students' Union is part of committee.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
We have brought provisions to protect the rights of the states of the Northeast: Home Minister Amit Shah
Amit Shah On Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Misinformation has been spread that this bill is against Muslims of India. I want to ask the people saying this that how is this bill related to Indian Muslims? They are Indian citizens and will always remain, no discrimination against them.
Amit Shah
Indian Muslims don't need to fear Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 gives citizenship to refugees who have had centuries of cultural affinity with Indian ethos: BJP
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: There has been an almost 20% decline each in population of religious minorities in both Pakistan and present day Bangladesh. Either they were killed or they fled to India for shelter.
Amit Shah
The Bill is part of BJP's promise before Lok Sabha Elections.
Citizenship Amendment Bill Debate Begins
"This Bill is in order, there is no reason to demand reconsider debate on this Bill. The Lok Sabha has passed this Bill, and I have seen the legislation and it's in order," says Venkaiah Naidu.
Aligarh
Security tightened around Aligarh Muslim University campus in wake of protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill.
Assam
Heavy security put in place as protests against Citizenship Ammendment Bill 2019 continue in Dibrugarh.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Parliament.
BJP appoints 10 speakers for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill debate
BJP working president JP Nadda will be opening the debate in Rajya Sabha. Bhupendra Yadav, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe will be among the speakers.
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP on Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha
We have to clear our doubts on this bill, if we don't get satisfactory answers then our stand could be different from what we took in Lok Sabha.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav protests Citizenship Amendment Bill
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi after BJP parliamentary party meeting
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.
Citizenship Amendment Bill attempt by Modi-Shah govt to 'ethnically cleanse North-East,' tweets Rahul Gandhi. Full story here...
Congress speaking in Pakistan's language: PM Modi on Citizenship Amendment Bill criticism. Read here...
Citizenship Amendment Bill
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.
Citizenship Amendment Bill
Internet suspended in Tripura, clashes in Assam as protests hit Northeast. Read here...
Here's How The Numbers Stand in Rajya Sabha
After a smooth sailing in the Lok Sabha, the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is expected to face a sterner test on Wednesday when it will be taken up for discussion in Rajya Sabha. Read here...
