Lok Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill amid protests

The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha paving the way for the enactment of a new citizenship law. Home Minister Rajnath Singh had moved the bill

The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has been passed in Lok Sabha paving the way for the enactment of a new citizenship law.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh had moved the bill in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day amid a massive protest and bandh in the Northeast.

The bill that seeks to provide citizenship to minority non-Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan who have entered India before December 31, 2014, was passed amid protest by opposition MPs and a walkout by Congress and Trinamool members.

Tabling the bill in the parliament Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre was committed to deal with the illegal migrants and that the passage of the bill will not lead to any discrimination in the ongoing NRC updation process.

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After opposition members and even coalition partner of the BJP like the Shiv Sena staged vehement opposition to the bill calling it anti-Assam and non-secular, Rajnath Singh concluded the debate saying all fears surrounding the bill are unfounded.

Moments before the bill was declared passed, Rajnath Singh reassured that the interests of the indigenous populace of Assam will be protected at any cost.

He added that the burden of the migrants will not be on Assam alone but the entire nation will stand by it.

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