Citizenship Amendment Bill: Amit Shah says, 'Congress divided India on religious lines'

Lok Sabha has voted in favour of presenting Citizenship Amendment Bill. Opposition leaders had objected presentation of the Bill as violating fundamental rights which necessitated the division of votes in Lok Sabha.

Earlier on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), 2019, in Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there.

Congress opposes introduction of CAB

Raising concerns over the move, Leader of Opposition in the Lower House, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, said, “It is nothing but targeted legislation for the minority people of our country.” Refuting the claims, Shah said “the Bill is not even .001% against minorities in the country”.

Bill will correct the mistakes committed by the Congress party: Amit Shah

Muslims from the neighbouring countries can apply for citizenship as per the prevalent rules. But the Constitutional Amendment Bill doesn't apply to Muslims from these neighbouring countries as they don't face religious prosecution.

Home Minister Amit Shah said: "In Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Hindus,Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis and Jains have been discriminated against. So this bill will give these persecuted people citizenship. Also, the allegation that this bill will take away the rights of Muslims is wrong,".

Congress divided India on religious lines: Amit Shah

"Why do we need this Bill today? After independence, if Congress had not done partition on the basis of religion, then, today we would have not needed this Bill. Congress did partition on the basis of religion," Amit Shah said.

Lok Sabha gives green signal to introduction of CAB

Lok Sabha votes 293 'Ayes' in favour of introduction CAB Citizenship Amendment Bill and 82 'Noes' against Bill's introduction, in Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from ANI)

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