<p>Delhi Police's Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East, on Sunday told media that the police personnel acted only to control the situation as a mob of students of a prominent university turned violent while protesting against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/citizenship-amendment-bill-was-passed-to-give-respect-to-those-who-fled-to-india-as-refugees-pm-modi-268376">Citizenship Amendment Act</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The mob was violent. Around 6 policemen have been injured in stone-pelting," Biswas told reporters.</p>

<p>"The campus is not unified, it is located on both sides of the road and while we were pushing the mob back they were going in the university, throwing stones from inside, so we were checking those places," the DCP said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East on being asked 'did police fire at the protesters?': There has been no firing absolutely. It is a false rumour that is being spread. <a href="https://t.co/kHtm816H09">pic.twitter.com/kHtm816H09</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1206230197718016000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Biswas added that there has been no firing by the police in the process of trying to control the mob. He added that some people have been detained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The mob caused arson, set motorcycles ablaze, it pelted stones at us," Biswas said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our only interest is to push the mob back, so law and order can be restored in the area. We have no problem with the university," Biswas was quoted by news agency ANI.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East: This mob was violent. Around 6 police men have been injured in the stone pelting. We are yet to ascertained the identities. <a href="https://t.co/RHF3GCaCUy">pic.twitter.com/RHF3GCaCUy</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1206229074558873600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for peace and normalcy in the national capital and has asked people not to indulge in any act of violence.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Spoke to Hon’ble LG and urged him to take all steps to restore normalcy and peace. We are also doing everything possible at our end. Real miscreants who caused violence shud be identified and punished.</p>
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1206213297768288256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"Spoke to Hon’ble LG and urged him to take all steps to restore normalcy and peace. We are also doing everything possible at our end. Real miscreants who caused violence should be identified and punished," Kejriwal tweeted out today evening.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East: Some people have also been detained, can only give more information later. <a href="https://t.co/kIwjRs6rJ5">https://t.co/kIwjRs6rJ5</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1206232005387542528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The national capital was the latest to hit by anti-Citizenship Act protests with students of a prominent university protesting against the Act that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants and refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Correction Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia: All schools to stay closed in Okhla, Jamia and New Friends Colony and Madanpur Khadar area of Delhi. (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/dL5c56AnNg">pic.twitter.com/dL5c56AnNg</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1206237184375713798?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/assam-3-dead-27-injured-till-now-in-protests-over-citizenship-268360">protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act</a> entered its fifth day across various cities in India. Protests in the national capital turned violent on Sunday, four <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-dtc-buses-torched-as-protests-against-citizenship-act-turn-violent-268397">buses were torched</a>.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has directed all schools in and around Okhla, Jamia Nagar, New Friends Colony and Madanpur Khadar area to remain shut on Monday in the wake of protests. Exit and entry at over 10 stations of Delhi Metro will also be shut.&nbsp;</p>


Delhi Police's Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East, on Sunday told media that the police personnel acted only to control the situation as a mob of students of a prominent university turned violent while protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Delhi Police's Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East, on Sunday told media that the police personnel acted only to control the situation as a mob of students of a prominent university turned violent while protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act. "The mob was violent. Around 6 policemen have been injured in stone-pelting," Biswas told reporters. "The campus is not unified, it is located on both sides of the road and while we were pushing the mob back they were going in the university, throwing stones from inside, so we were checking those places," the DCP said. Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East on being asked 'did police fire at the protesters?': There has been no firing absolutely. It is a false rumour that is being spread. pic.twitter.com/kHtm816H09 — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2019 × Biswas added that there has been no firing by the police in the process of trying to control the mob. He added that some people have been detained. "The mob caused arson, set motorcycles ablaze, it pelted stones at us," Biswas said. "Our only interest is to push the mob back, so law and order can be restored in the area. We have no problem with the university," Biswas was quoted by news agency ANI. Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East: This mob was violent. Around 6 police men have been injured in the stone pelting. We are yet to ascertained the identities. pic.twitter.com/RHF3GCaCUy — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2019 × Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has called for peace and normalcy in the national capital and has asked people not to indulge in any act of violence. Spoke to Hon’ble LG and urged him to take all steps to restore normalcy and peace. We are also doing everything possible at our end. Real miscreants who caused violence shud be identified and punished. — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2019 × "Spoke to Hon’ble LG and urged him to take all steps to restore normalcy and peace. We are also doing everything possible at our end. Real miscreants who caused violence should be identified and punished," Kejriwal tweeted out today evening. Chinmoy Biswal, DCP South East: Some people have also been detained, can only give more information later. https://t.co/kIwjRs6rJ5 — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2019 × The national capital was the latest to hit by anti-Citizenship Act protests with students of a prominent university protesting against the Act that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants and refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Correction Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia: All schools to stay closed in Okhla, Jamia and New Friends Colony and Madanpur Khadar area of Delhi. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/dL5c56AnNg — ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2019 × The protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act entered its fifth day across various cities in India. Protests in the national capital turned violent on Sunday, four buses were torched. Meanwhile, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has directed all schools in and around Okhla, Jamia Nagar, New Friends Colony and Madanpur Khadar area to remain shut on Monday in the wake of protests. Exit and entry at over 10 stations of Delhi Metro will also be shut.

'Only interest is to restore law and order,' says top cop as Delhi Police, student protesters clash over Citizenship Act 

<p>Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Saturday said that the situation is coming to normalcy in the state and curfew in Guwahati has been relaxed today.</p>

<p>"The situation is much better now. In fact, it is coming to normalcy in all the districts. We had imposed curfew in Guwahati and Dibrugarh. It has been relaxed in Guwahati city today. In the last few days, we have arrested more than 100 people. We have released some persons who had just participated in the protest and not engaged in lawlessness," Mahanta told ANI.</p>

<p>"Some anti-social elements had infiltrated into the agitation and they had caused damage of property on a large scale. The government of India was very kind to dispatch 55 companies to Assam. Already, peace is coming back to the region. However, my warning is that there are bad elements who will try to disrupt the peace. I appeal to the people of Assam to follow the law and motivate their children to lead a life of peace," he added.</p>

<p>The curfew in Guwahati was relaxed from 9 AM to 4 PM by the administration today. Protests have broken out in Guwahati and other parts of Assam following the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Parliament on Wednesday, and it becoming an Act thereupon after the Presidential assent.</p>

<p>As many as 26 Army columns were deployed in Assam to assist the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to handle the situation.</p>

<p>The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.&nbsp;</p>


Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Saturday said that the situation is coming to normalcy in the state and curfew in Guwahati has been relaxed today. "The situation is much better now.

Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Saturday said that the situation is coming to normalcy in the state and curfew in Guwahati has been relaxed today. "The situation is much better now. In fact, it is coming to normalcy in all the districts. We had imposed curfew in Guwahati and Dibrugarh. It has been relaxed in Guwahati city today. In the last few days, we have arrested more than 100 people. We have released some persons who had just participated in the protest and not engaged in lawlessness," Mahanta told ANI. "Some anti-social elements had infiltrated into the agitation and they had caused damage of property on a large scale. The government of India was very kind to dispatch 55 companies to Assam. Already, peace is coming back to the region. However, my warning is that there are bad elements who will try to disrupt the peace. I appeal to the people of Assam to follow the law and motivate their children to lead a life of peace," he added. The curfew in Guwahati was relaxed from 9 AM to 4 PM by the administration today. Protests have broken out in Guwahati and other parts of Assam following the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Parliament on Wednesday, and it becoming an Act thereupon after the Presidential assent. As many as 26 Army columns were deployed in Assam to assist the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to handle the situation. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

Situation coming to normalcy in Assam: State DGP BJ Mahanta

Responding to the debate over the controversial Bill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the legislation should have been brought 50 years ago. He added that this is not a violation of Article 14. This comes under 'reasonable classification' as there are 6 religious groups that are listed.

WION Dispatch: Citizenship Amendment Bill is not violation of Article 14, says Amit Shah

<p>West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday reacted to reports of the postponement of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/japanese-pm-shinzo-abes-visit-to-india-postponed-268081">Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India</a>.</p>

<p>"It will be a blot on our country," Banerjee said.</p>

<p>The external affairs ministry on Friday confirmed that Abe's visit to India has been postponed and will take place later on a mutually convenient date.</p>

<p>According to reports, Abe's visit was to take place in India's Northeast region. The northeast has been rocked by massive protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on India, Japan defer Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's visit to mutually convenient date in near future: It will be a blot on our country. (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/hTkzPPtiCC">pic.twitter.com/hTkzPPtiCC</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1205417930457935872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Thursday, at least two people were killed in police firing as mobs continued to protest against the Bill that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from&nbsp;Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bangladesh-minister-has-given-explanation-for-cancelling-his-india-visit-mea-267936">also cancelled their trips to India</a> amid protests against a citizenship bill.</p>


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday reacted to reports of the postponement of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India. "It will be a blot on our country," Banerjee said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday reacted to reports of the postponement of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India. "It will be a blot on our country," Banerjee said. The external affairs ministry on Friday confirmed that Abe's visit to India has been postponed and will take place later on a mutually convenient date. According to reports, Abe's visit was to take place in India's Northeast region. The northeast has been rocked by massive protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on India, Japan defer Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's visit to mutually convenient date in near future: It will be a blot on our country. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/hTkzPPtiCC — ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2019 × On Thursday, at least two people were killed in police firing as mobs continued to protest against the Bill that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Bangladesh's Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal have also cancelled their trips to India amid protests against a citizenship bill.

Blot on our country: Mamata reacts as Japanese PM's India visit gets deferred

<p>Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/2002-gujarat-riots-nanavati-mehta-commission-gives-clean-chit-to-narendra-modi-267592">Narendra Modi </a>on Thursday assured the people of Assam that no one can take away their rights, unique identity and beautiful culture, amid protests in parts of the state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.</p>

<p>"I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I want to assure them- no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow," the Prime Minister tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAB</a>.<br />
<br />
I want to assure them- no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1204981291730341888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>"The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6," he said in another tweet.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1204981391710019584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>During the discussions on the CAB, Union Home Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-rise-of-amit-shah-as-indias-new-loh-purush-242162">Amit Shah</a> had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is committed to preserving linguistic and cultural rights as well as the social identity of people in northeastern states.</p>

<p>"In northeastern states, we will try to address the issues raised by them about the law. We repeat our commitment to preserving the language, culture, and social identity rights of northeastern states. There are provisions to preserve these rights. The concern of the northeast will be addressed, we had said this earlier," he said.<br />
Assam's capital city Guwahati and its district Dibrugarh have been placed under indefinite curfew till further orders in the wake of protests after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cab-to-function-like-a-one-time-drive-says-top-rss-functionary-267715">CAB</a>) in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.</p>

<p>The administration has also suspended mobile Internet services for 24 hours from 7 pm on Wednesday in ten districts of the state-Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (metro) and Kamrup.</p>

<p>An order of the Assam administration warned that violation of the "promulgation" will be punishable under <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-he-goes-missing-is-found-congress-leader-hardik-patel-visit-togadia-in-hospital-29739">Section 188 IPC</a> and also under the relevant provision of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.</p>

<p>The decision came in the wake of protests in the state against the CAB.</p>

<p>Also, the Indian Army said that two columns of Assam Rifles troops have been deployed in Tripura and the third column in Assam is on standby at the request of the city Administration in Tripura and Assam.</p>

<p>The CAB smoothly sailed through Parliament after the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajya-sabha-passes-citizenship-amendment-bill-267747">Rajya Sabha</a> passed it on Wednesday. As many as 125 members of the Upper House voted in favour while 105 MPs voted against the Bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha earlier this week.</p>

<p>The Bill seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured the people of Assam that no one can take away their rights, unique identity and beautiful culture, amid protests in parts of the state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured the people of Assam that no one can take away their rights, unique identity and beautiful culture, amid protests in parts of the state against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019. "I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I want to assure them- no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow," the Prime Minister tweeted. I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I want to assure them- no one can take away your rights, unique identity and beautiful culture. It will continue to flourish and grow. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2019 × "The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6," he said in another tweet. The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people as per the spirit of Clause 6. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 12, 2019 × During the discussions on the CAB, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is committed to preserving linguistic and cultural rights as well as the social identity of people in northeastern states. "In northeastern states, we will try to address the issues raised by them about the law. We repeat our commitment to preserving the language, culture, and social identity rights of northeastern states. There are provisions to preserve these rights. The concern of the northeast will be addressed, we had said this earlier," he said. Assam's capital city Guwahati and its district Dibrugarh have been placed under indefinite curfew till further orders in the wake of protests after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The administration has also suspended mobile Internet services for 24 hours from 7 pm on Wednesday in ten districts of the state-Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Kamrup (metro) and Kamrup. An order of the Assam administration warned that violation of the "promulgation" will be punishable under Section 188 IPC and also under the relevant provision of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. The decision came in the wake of protests in the state against the CAB. Also, the Indian Army said that two columns of Assam Rifles troops have been deployed in Tripura and the third column in Assam is on standby at the request of the city Administration in Tripura and Assam. The CAB smoothly sailed through Parliament after the Rajya Sabha passed it on Wednesday. As many as 125 members of the Upper House voted in favour while 105 MPs voted against the Bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha earlier this week. The Bill seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zoroastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

No one can take away your rights, unique identity: Prime Minister assures Assam on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

India's MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar has clarified the issue of Bangladesh postponing its Foreign Minister's visit to India. Commenting on the rumours that Bangladesh cancelled its FM visit to India due to the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the MEA spokesperson said that the relationship between the two countries remains strong as ever.

WION Dispatch: Indian MEA comes clean on Bangladesh

<p>India's upper house the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cab-to-function-like-a-one-time-drive-says-top-rss-functionary-267715"> Citizenship (Amendment) Bill</a> with 125 members favouring it and 105 voting against it.</p>

<p>In a dramatic turn of events, NDA's former ally Shiv Sena boycotted the voting process.</p>

<p>"My party and I felt that when answers are not given properly then it is not right to either support or oppose the bill," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.</p>

<p>"We didn't say that the refugees shouldn't be granted citizenship, they should be given. But we said that if it's a conspiracy for vote bank politics &amp; allegations are being levelled against you then they should not be granted voting rights for 25 years," he added.</p>

<p>Earlier, the Rajya Sabha voted against sending the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to a select committee of parliament for review.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A landmark day for India and our nation’s ethos of compassion and brotherhood!<br />
<br />
Glad that the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAB2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAB2019</a> has been passed in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RajyaSabha?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RajyaSabha</a>. Gratitude to all the MPs who voted in favour of the Bill.<br />
<br />
This Bill will alleviate the suffering of many who faced persecution for years.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1204788395613966336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Ninty-nine members voted for sending the bill to the select committee, while 124 opted against it during the voting after the motion was moved by CPM MP, KK Ragesh.</p>

<p>Replying on the bill, Home minister Amit Shah said the bill is not going to hurt anyone's sentiments or make people of any community upset.</p>

<p>"The people who are worried that minorities of this country will be subjected to injustice, it will not happen," India's home minister asserted.</p>

<p>"Abrogation of Article 370, Triple Talaq Bill is not anti-Muslim. Do women not have rights? Kashmir is peaceful even after the abrogation of 370. Likewise, I don't believe the bill is anti-Muslim," he added.</p>

<p>Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena, Amit Shah said: "Shiv Sena supported the Bill yesterday. They should tell the people of Maharashtra as to what happened within the span of a night that they changed their stand today."</p>

<p>"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," Amit Shah informed the House.</p>

<p>"This bill does not hurt the Article 14 of the Constitution," he said, adding, "this bill will not harm the minority communities including Muslims."</p>

<p>"There is no appreciation of the fact people from 6 religions have been included. But, the focus is only on why Muslims are not included."</p>


India's upper house the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill with 125 members favouring it and 105 voting against it. In a dramatic turn of events, NDA's former ally Shiv Sena boycotted the voting process.

India's upper house the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill with 125 members favouring it and 105 voting against it. In a dramatic turn of events, NDA's former ally Shiv Sena boycotted the voting process. "My party and I felt that when answers are not given properly then it is not right to either support or oppose the bill," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said. "We didn't say that the refugees shouldn't be granted citizenship, they should be given. But we said that if it's a conspiracy for vote bank politics & allegations are being levelled against you then they should not be granted voting rights for 25 years," he added. Earlier, the Rajya Sabha voted against sending the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to a select committee of parliament for review. A landmark day for India and our nation’s ethos of compassion and brotherhood! Glad that the #CAB2019 has been passed in the #RajyaSabha. Gratitude to all the MPs who voted in favour of the Bill. This Bill will alleviate the suffering of many who faced persecution for years. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2019 × Ninty-nine members voted for sending the bill to the select committee, while 124 opted against it during the voting after the motion was moved by CPM MP, KK Ragesh. Replying on the bill, Home minister Amit Shah said the bill is not going to hurt anyone's sentiments or make people of any community upset. "The people who are worried that minorities of this country will be subjected to injustice, it will not happen," India's home minister asserted. "Abrogation of Article 370, Triple Talaq Bill is not anti-Muslim. Do women not have rights? Kashmir is peaceful even after the abrogation of 370. Likewise, I don't believe the bill is anti-Muslim," he added. Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena, Amit Shah said: "Shiv Sena supported the Bill yesterday. They should tell the people of Maharashtra as to what happened within the span of a night that they changed their stand today." "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," Amit Shah informed the House. "This bill does not hurt the Article 14 of the Constitution," he said, adding, "this bill will not harm the minority communities including Muslims." "There is no appreciation of the fact people from 6 religions have been included. But, the focus is only on why Muslims are not included."

Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

<p>The ministry of external affairs(MEA) today slammed the US panel on international religious freedom for its statements on the citizenship amendment bill.</p>

<p>"We regret the inaccurate and unwarranted comments made by USCIRF on CAB," the MEA said, adding, "they have chosen to be guided by their prejudices and biases on a matter on which they have little knowledge and no locus standi."</p>

<p>"The Bill provides expedited consideration for Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities already in India from certain contiguous countries. It seeks to address their current difficulties and meet their basic human rights," it said.</p>

<p>"Such an initiative should be welcomed, not criticised by those who are genuinely committed to religious freedom," the MEA statement said.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, the US House foreign affairs committee has raised concerns over the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We regret the inaccurate and unwarranted comments made by USCIRF on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CAB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CAB</a>. They have chosen to be guided by their prejudices and biases on a matter on which they have little knowledge and no locus standi.<br />
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Read our full statement below ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/BLajy03MtZ">pic.twitter.com/BLajy03MtZ</a></p>
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<p>"Religious pluralism is central to the foundations of both India and the United States and is one of our core shared values. Any religious test for citizenship undermines this most basic democratic tenet," the committee reacted after the passage of the bill.</p>

<p>"The CAB does not affect the existing avenues available to all communities interested in seeking citizenship from doing so. The record of granting such citizenship would bear out the government of India's objectivity in that record," the MEA said.</p>

<p>"Neither the CAB nor the National Register of Citizens(NRC) process seeks to strip citizenship from any Indian citizen of any faith," it said.</p>

<p>"Suggestions to that affect are motivated and unjustified."</p>

<p>"Every nation, including the United States, has the right to enumerate and validate its citizenry and to exercise this prerogative through various policies," the statement added.</p>

<p>"The position articulated by USCIRF is not surprising given its past record. It is, however, regrettable that the body has chosen to be guided only by its prejudices and biases on a matter on which clearly it has little knowledge and no locus standi."</p>


The ministry of external affairs(MEA) today slammed the US panel on international religious freedom for its statements on the citizenship amendment bill. "We regret the inaccurate and unwarranted comments made by USCIRF on CAB," the MEA said, adding, "they have chosen to be guided by their prejudices and biases on a matter on which they have little knowledge and no locus standi.

The ministry of external affairs(MEA) today slammed the US panel on international religious freedom for its statements on the citizenship amendment bill. "We regret the inaccurate and unwarranted comments made by USCIRF on CAB," the MEA said, adding, "they have chosen to be guided by their prejudices and biases on a matter on which they have little knowledge and no locus standi." "The Bill provides expedited consideration for Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities already in India from certain contiguous countries. It seeks to address their current difficulties and meet their basic human rights," it said. "Such an initiative should be welcomed, not criticised by those who are genuinely committed to religious freedom," the MEA statement said. On Tuesday, the US House foreign affairs committee has raised concerns over the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha. We regret the inaccurate and unwarranted comments made by USCIRF on #CAB. They have chosen to be guided by their prejudices and biases on a matter on which they have little knowledge and no locus standi. Read our full statement below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/BLajy03MtZ — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) December 10, 2019 × "Religious pluralism is central to the foundations of both India and the United States and is one of our core shared values. Any religious test for citizenship undermines this most basic democratic tenet," the committee reacted after the passage of the bill. "The CAB does not affect the existing avenues available to all communities interested in seeking citizenship from doing so. The record of granting such citizenship would bear out the government of India's objectivity in that record," the MEA said. "Neither the CAB nor the National Register of Citizens(NRC) process seeks to strip citizenship from any Indian citizen of any faith," it said. "Suggestions to that affect are motivated and unjustified." "Every nation, including the United States, has the right to enumerate and validate its citizenry and to exercise this prerogative through various policies," the statement added. "The position articulated by USCIRF is not surprising given its past record. It is, however, regrettable that the body has chosen to be guided only by its prejudices and biases on a matter on which clearly it has little knowledge and no locus standi."

India slams US panel over statement on Citizenship Amendment Bill

Dozens of protests broke out across northeastern India on Tuesday (December 10), after the lower house of Indian parliament passed the controversial religion-based Citizenship (Amendment) Bill late at night.

Protests erupt across northeastern India over religion-based citizenship bill

<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha on Monday, said that Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh won`t get the benefit of this amendment as they have not faced religious persecution.</p>

<p>"If any Muslim from these three (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh) nations applies for citizenship according to our law, then we will consider it, but the person won`t get the benefit of this amendment as the person has not faced religious persecution," said Shah in the Lower House.</p>

<p>"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," he said.</p>

<p>"Why do we need this Bill today? After independence, if the Congress had not done the partition on the basis of religion, then today we would have not needed this Bill," he said.</p>

<p>The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Through this Bill, Indian citizenship will be provided to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, to put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country.</p>

<p>It is important to note that the Bill was passed by the Lower House of Parliament earlier this year but lapsed with the term of the previous Lok Sabha during the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government at the Centre.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha on Monday, said that Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh won`t get the benefit of this amendment as they have not faced religious persecution.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha on Monday, said that Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh won`t get the benefit of this amendment as they have not faced religious persecution. "If any Muslim from these three (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh) nations applies for citizenship according to our law, then we will consider it, but the person won`t get the benefit of this amendment as the person has not faced religious persecution," said Shah in the Lower House. "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," he said. "Why do we need this Bill today? After independence, if the Congress had not done the partition on the basis of religion, then today we would have not needed this Bill," he said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Through this Bill, Indian citizenship will be provided to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, to put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country. It is important to note that the Bill was passed by the Lower House of Parliament earlier this year but lapsed with the term of the previous Lok Sabha during the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh won't get benefits of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: Amit Shah

<p>The All India United Democratic Front, an Assam-based political party, protested against the controversial <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/citizenship-amendment-bill-tabled-in-lok-sabha-267128">Citizenship (Amendment) Bill</a>, 2019 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday.</p>

<p>Protestors marched with placards that read, `We oppose CAB` and `CAB is against the idea of India`.</p>

<p>"The Centre is trying to get illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into our state. We are against this Bill, and we will keep protesting against the Bill. The government can pass it but we will not let it be enforced into Assam," Nizamuddin Choudhury, a party legislator, told ANI.</p>

<p>"The CAB should be abolished because it is against our constitution. This is a religious bill, which violates the Assam Accord signed in 1985," said Sujabuddin Lashkar, a protestor.</p>

<p>The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.</p>

<p><strong>Also Watch:&nbsp;Citizenship Amendment Bill tabled in Lok Sabha</strong></p>

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<p>If passed, the legislation will enable Indian citizenship to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution and put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country.</p>

<p>The Bill has evoked mixed reactions from various sections of the society and the political parties. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, had on Sunday said that the party will oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill "tooth and nail" in Parliament, calling it "violation" of the Indian Constitution.</p>

<p>Several Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Gaurav Gogoi and AK Antony had taken part in the meeting held at Gandhi`s residence late on Sunday.</p>

<p>Apart from this, several students and indigenous people`s rights organisations such as the All Assam Students` Union and the Indigenous People`s Front of Tripura , through marches and calling for strikes, have also carried out protests against the CAB.</p>

<p>The Bill was passed by the Lower House of the Parliament earlier this year but lapsed with the term of the previous Lok Sabha.</p>


The All India United Democratic Front, an Assam-based political party, protested against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday.

The All India United Democratic Front, an Assam-based political party, protested against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Monday. Protestors marched with placards that read, `We oppose CAB` and `CAB is against the idea of India`. "The Centre is trying to get illegal Bangladeshi immigrants into our state. We are against this Bill, and we will keep protesting against the Bill. The government can pass it but we will not let it be enforced into Assam," Nizamuddin Choudhury, a party legislator, told ANI. "The CAB should be abolished because it is against our constitution. This is a religious bill, which violates the Assam Accord signed in 1985," said Sujabuddin Lashkar, a protestor. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, that seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Also Watch: Citizenship Amendment Bill tabled in Lok Sabha × If passed, the legislation will enable Indian citizenship to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from the three countries to India till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution and put an end to them being treated as illegal immigrants in the country. The Bill has evoked mixed reactions from various sections of the society and the political parties. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, had on Sunday said that the party will oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill "tooth and nail" in Parliament, calling it "violation" of the Indian Constitution. Several Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Gaurav Gogoi and AK Antony had taken part in the meeting held at Gandhi`s residence late on Sunday. Apart from this, several students and indigenous people`s rights organisations such as the All Assam Students` Union and the Indigenous People`s Front of Tripura , through marches and calling for strikes, have also carried out protests against the CAB. The Bill was passed by the Lower House of the Parliament earlier this year but lapsed with the term of the previous Lok Sabha.

Assam's AIUDF protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill in Delhi

<p>Union Home Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../jammu-kashmir-situation-fully-normal-none- died-in-police-firing-since-august-5-amit-shah-263354">Amit Shah</a> said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that all citizens of India irrespective of religion will figure in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../bjp-can-never-come-to-power-in-west-bengal- nor-can-it-implement-nrc-here-tmcs-madan-mitra-256947">National Register of Citizens</a> (NRC) list and that NRC is different from the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../aap-protests-in-parliament-demands-inclusion- of-bill-on-unauthorised-colonies-in-winter-session-263360"> </a>Citizenship Amendment Bill.</p>

<p>"NRC has no such provision which says that certain religions will be excluded from it. All citizens of India irrespective of religion will figure in the NRC list. The NRC is different from Citizenship Amendment Bill," said Shah addressing the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../amit-shah-to-speak-in-rajya-sabha-today- 263306">Rajya Sabha</a> here.</p>

<p>"The process of NRC will be carried out across the country. No one, irrespective of religion should be worried, it is just a process to get everyone under the NRC," he added.</p>

<p>Speaking in the Upper House of Parliament Shah said: "People whose name have not figured in the draft list have the right to go to the Tribunal. Tribunals will be constituted across Assam. For those who can't afford legal counsel for the Tribunal, the Assam government will bear the cost to hire a lawyer."</p>

<p>He said that<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../aap-protests-in-parliament-demands-inclusion- of-bill-on-unauthorised-colonies-in-winter-session-263360"> Citizenship Amendment Bill</a> is needed so that Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Parsi refugees who are being discriminated on basis of religion in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan, get Indian citizenship.</p>

<p>"Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Parsi refugees should get citizenship, that is why Citizenship Amendment Bill is needed so that these refugees who are being discriminated on basis of religion in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan, get Indian citizenship," said Shah.</p>

<p>The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8, aims at granting citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014.</p>

<p>In the final NRC list published on August 31, a total of 3,11,21,004 persons were found eligible for inclusion in the list leaving out 19,06,657 persons, including those who did not submit their claims in Assam..</p>


Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that all citizens of India irrespective of religion will figure in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list and that NRC is different from the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that all citizens of India irrespective of religion will figure in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) list and that NRC is different from the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "NRC has no such provision which says that certain religions will be excluded from it. All citizens of India irrespective of religion will figure in the NRC list. The NRC is different from Citizenship Amendment Bill," said Shah addressing the Rajya Sabha here. "The process of NRC will be carried out across the country. No one, irrespective of religion should be worried, it is just a process to get everyone under the NRC," he added. Speaking in the Upper House of Parliament Shah said: "People whose name have not figured in the draft list have the right to go to the Tribunal. Tribunals will be constituted across Assam. For those who can't afford legal counsel for the Tribunal, the Assam government will bear the cost to hire a lawyer." He said that Citizenship Amendment Bill is needed so that Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Parsi refugees who are being discriminated on basis of religion in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan, get Indian citizenship. "Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Parsi refugees should get citizenship, that is why Citizenship Amendment Bill is needed so that these refugees who are being discriminated on basis of religion in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan, get Indian citizenship," said Shah. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8, aims at granting citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014. In the final NRC list published on August 31, a total of 3,11,21,004 persons were found eligible for inclusion in the list leaving out 19,06,657 persons, including those who did not submit their claims in Assam..

NRC will cover everybody across India, irrespective of religion: Amit Shah

<p>Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Thursday that the ruling Mizo National Front would not hesitate to snap ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not revoked.</p>

<p>Addressing MNF workers at Aibawk village near Aizwal, Zoramthanga said that the party and his government had been making all-out efforts to ensure the defeat of the bill.</p>

<p>"The ruling party would withdraw its support to the NDA if situation arises," he said.</p>

<p>The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014.</p>

<p>"The state cabinet adopted a resolution opposing the proposed legislation and I have met both the prime minister and the Union Home Minister to inform them about our opposition to the legislation," the MNF chief said.</p>

<p>The party would be at the forefront of the movement against the proposed bill, Zoramthanga asserted.</p>

<p>"The bill should not be enacted as it does not value the historic Mizo accord signed between India and the erstwhile underground MNF in 1986," he added.</p>

<p>The Mizo National Front was formed in 1950s to protest against the inaction of the central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of Assam.</p>

<p>Following years of underground activities, it signed the Mizoram Accord with the Union government in 1986, renouncing violence.</p>

<p>The party cruised to an absolute majority last year, winning 26 of the 40 seats in the Mizoram Assembly.</p>


Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Thursday that the ruling Mizo National Front would not hesitate to snap ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not revoked.

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga said on Thursday that the ruling Mizo National Front would not hesitate to snap ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is not revoked. Addressing MNF workers at Aibawk village near Aizwal, Zoramthanga said that the party and his government had been making all-out efforts to ensure the defeat of the bill. "The ruling party would withdraw its support to the NDA if situation arises," he said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8, seeks to grant Indian nationality to non-Muslims who fled religious persecution from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and entered India before December 31, 2014. "The state cabinet adopted a resolution opposing the proposed legislation and I have met both the prime minister and the Union Home Minister to inform them about our opposition to the legislation," the MNF chief said. The party would be at the forefront of the movement against the proposed bill, Zoramthanga asserted. "The bill should not be enacted as it does not value the historic Mizo accord signed between India and the erstwhile underground MNF in 1986," he added. The Mizo National Front was formed in 1950s to protest against the inaction of the central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of Assam. Following years of underground activities, it signed the Mizoram Accord with the Union government in 1986, renouncing violence. The party cruised to an absolute majority last year, winning 26 of the 40 seats in the Mizoram Assembly.

Will withdraw support from NDA over Citizenship Bill if situation arises: Mizoram Chief Minister

<p>Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the citizenship bill is not applicable to the state as it is protected under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Rio, on Friday asserted that the state is protected under provisions of Article 371 (A) and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as per Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, (BEFR) of 1873, a release issued by the Chief Minister's Office said Sunday.</p>

<p>The article deals with special provisions with respect to Nagaland.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It states that no act of Parliament with respect to religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources, shall apply to the state unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides.</p>

<p>The Cabinet deliberated on the matter in view of the citizenship bill being passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 and its consequent impact on Nagaland and other north-eastern states.</p>

<p>The state Cabinet, during the meeting, also decided to appeal to the Centre to have wider consultations with all north-eastern states to ensure that rights of indigenous people are fully protected.</p>

<p>The Cabinet decided to re-affirm all provisions of Article 371 (A) and to strengthen the implementation of the ILP as per BEFR of 1873 that will also be taken up in the next session of the state assembly.</p>

<p>The release stated that as per the Cabinet decision, the chief minister has also written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, conveying the concern and apprehension of the people of Nagaland regarding the bill, the release said.</p>

<p>The letter says the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, even if enacted, will not be applicable to Nagaland in view of the Article 371 (A) that guarantees the Nagas their way of life un-interfered by any Parliamentary enactment, unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides, it said.</p>

<p>The citizenship bill provides for according Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India, instead of 12 years currently, even if they do not possess any document.</p>


Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the citizenship bill is not applicable to the state as it is protected under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has written to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, saying the citizenship bill is not applicable to the state as it is protected under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution. A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Rio, on Friday asserted that the state is protected under provisions of Article 371 (A) and the Inner Line Permit (ILP) as per Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, (BEFR) of 1873, a release issued by the Chief Minister's Office said Sunday. The article deals with special provisions with respect to Nagaland. It states that no act of Parliament with respect to religious or social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources, shall apply to the state unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides. The Cabinet deliberated on the matter in view of the citizenship bill being passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 and its consequent impact on Nagaland and other north-eastern states. The state Cabinet, during the meeting, also decided to appeal to the Centre to have wider consultations with all north-eastern states to ensure that rights of indigenous people are fully protected. The Cabinet decided to re-affirm all provisions of Article 371 (A) and to strengthen the implementation of the ILP as per BEFR of 1873 that will also be taken up in the next session of the state assembly. The release stated that as per the Cabinet decision, the chief minister has also written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, conveying the concern and apprehension of the people of Nagaland regarding the bill, the release said. The letter says the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, even if enacted, will not be applicable to Nagaland in view of the Article 371 (A) that guarantees the Nagas their way of life un-interfered by any Parliamentary enactment, unless the Legislative Assembly by a resolution so decides, it said. The citizenship bill provides for according Indian citizenship to the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India, instead of 12 years currently, even if they do not possess any document.

Citizenship bill not applicable to Nagaland as state protected under Article 371(A): CM to Rajnath Singh

<p>Thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan, who were eagerly awaiting the passage of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bandh-in-northeast-states-against-police-firing-on-people-protesting-against-citizenship-bill-in-tripura-189902">bill by Parliament that would grant them Indian citizenship</a>, are disappointed that it could not fructify in the just-concluded Winter session but have not given up hope.</p>

<p>These people trickled into India over the last two decades, escaping religious persecution back in Pakistan and found a new home in India.</p>

<p>Most of them, hailing from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions of Pakistan, are staying in places like Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab.</p>

<p>Living here on the basis of a temporary visa, which is extended from time to time, these migrants are in a condition of statelessness, because of which they are unable to educate their children.</p>

<p>In 2017, 431 Pakistani Hindus were given Long Term Visa in line with the Modi government's policy to help rehabilitate minorities who fled from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.</p>

<p>Without any provision for getting long-term visas, Hindu and Sikh migrant families from Pakistan are trying relentlessly to get their visas renewed. Another problem for these families is to find suitable guarantors for their visas. The movement of Pakistani passport holders are also restricted.</p>

<p>While talking to ANI, some of the migrants narrated their problems, recounting the stories of harassment and torture experienced back home in Pakistan.</p>

<p>They were keenly tracking <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/citizenship-bill-ex-assam-cm-tarun-gogoi-says-he-will-violate-prohibitory-order-189616">the fate of the Citizenship Amendment Bill</a> in Parliament during the just-concluded Winter Session in the hope that it would be passed into law.</p>

<p>The bill, which is aimed at amending the Act of 1955, was passed by the Lok Sabha but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the Opposition parties insisted on sending the legislation to a Select Committee for thorough scrutiny.</p>

<p>"We have been staying in Amritsar for last 22 years. My grandfather, father and aunt died here seeking the nationality. I request the government and the Opposition to grant us citizenship. I want to fulfill my mother`s last wish of dying as an Indian citizen," said Parminder, who refused to reveal his full identity fearing a backlash to his relatives in Pakistan.</p>

<p>"My sister is being threatened with divorce because her husband's family no longer wants to bear the problem of visa renewal. Most of us struggle to get our daughter and sister married because of our Pakistani nationality. I pray to the government to pass the bill as soon as possible. I do not want her marriage to break just of this," said Shyam, another refugee.</p>

<p>"We are thankful to the government which thought about us and initiated the Citizenship bill," said Balwinder (again name changed).</p>

<p>He said the family hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. "We tried to stay there as long as possible but then the situation became worse. We were threatened by the Taliban to either change our religion or face prosecution. We thought it would be better to die one day rather than dying very moment," Balwinder added.</p>

<p>His wife Harpreet said, "In Pakistan, we had to obey several compulsions. We had no freedom to live our life. Men were allowed to go outside for work and women were mostly confined to homes. In India, we have got freedom. The only problem is the citizenship. Hope the government grants us citizenship so that we can at least get rid of visa requirement."</p>

<p>"I was only three-years-old when my parents along with other family members fled from Pakistan. I went there in 2008 but I find striking similarity between what my parents told and what I saw after visiting Pakistan after so many years. Nothing has changed. Even today, many Hindus and minorities staying in Pakistan face rampant discrimination and threats on religious grounds. All they want is to return to India for a safer life," said Visah Tiwari.</p>

<p>He went to Pakistan in 2008 for renewing his passport as mandated by the Pakistan government.</p>

<p>Rajinder, originally hailing from Peshawar, came to India in 2012 but he sent his family ahead of him in 2005 after the Taliban came to their area and demanded extortion of Rs 6 crore.</p>

<p>"We were asked to pay the amount then and there or face execution. I somehow managed to send my wife and children to India," he said. His extended family is still in Peshawar.</p>

<p>Ram Charan (name changed), another Hindu migrant from Peshawar, said, "I escaped to India in 1994 at the age of 14. In Peshawar, I saw how people were being bombed. When my father used to go out to earn, I would quietly pray inside our home that I should not hear about his demise. I also have a sister, I used to live in fear because young women were being kidnapped on broad daylight and nobody dares to resist."</p>

<p>As per the existing Citizenship Act, 1955 a migrant is declared 'illegal migrant' if they entered India or overstayed without any travel document. The present amended bill says that citizenship will be provided to people who were forced to flee from their country after being subjected to religious persecution or fear of persecution in their homeland, primarily Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.</p>


These people trickled into India over the last two decades, escaping religious persecution back in Pakistan and found a new home in India.

Thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan, who were eagerly awaiting the passage of a bill by Parliament that would grant them Indian citizenship, are disappointed that it could not fructify in the just-concluded Winter session but have not given up hope. These people trickled into India over the last two decades, escaping religious persecution back in Pakistan and found a new home in India. Most of them, hailing from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa regions of Pakistan, are staying in places like Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab. Living here on the basis of a temporary visa, which is extended from time to time, these migrants are in a condition of statelessness, because of which they are unable to educate their children. In 2017, 431 Pakistani Hindus were given Long Term Visa in line with the Modi government's policy to help rehabilitate minorities who fled from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Without any provision for getting long-term visas, Hindu and Sikh migrant families from Pakistan are trying relentlessly to get their visas renewed. Another problem for these families is to find suitable guarantors for their visas. The movement of Pakistani passport holders are also restricted. While talking to ANI, some of the migrants narrated their problems, recounting the stories of harassment and torture experienced back home in Pakistan. They were keenly tracking the fate of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament during the just-concluded Winter Session in the hope that it would be passed into law. The bill, which is aimed at amending the Act of 1955, was passed by the Lok Sabha but got stuck in the Rajya Sabha where the Opposition parties insisted on sending the legislation to a Select Committee for thorough scrutiny. "We have been staying in Amritsar for last 22 years. My grandfather, father and aunt died here seeking the nationality. I request the government and the Opposition to grant us citizenship. I want to fulfill my mother`s last wish of dying as an Indian citizen," said Parminder, who refused to reveal his full identity fearing a backlash to his relatives in Pakistan. "My sister is being threatened with divorce because her husband's family no longer wants to bear the problem of visa renewal. Most of us struggle to get our daughter and sister married because of our Pakistani nationality. I pray to the government to pass the bill as soon as possible. I do not want her marriage to break just of this," said Shyam, another refugee. "We are thankful to the government which thought about us and initiated the Citizenship bill," said Balwinder (again name changed). He said the family hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan. "We tried to stay there as long as possible but then the situation became worse. We were threatened by the Taliban to either change our religion or face prosecution. We thought it would be better to die one day rather than dying very moment," Balwinder added. His wife Harpreet said, "In Pakistan, we had to obey several compulsions. We had no freedom to live our life. Men were allowed to go outside for work and women were mostly confined to homes. In India, we have got freedom. The only problem is the citizenship. Hope the government grants us citizenship so that we can at least get rid of visa requirement." "I was only three-years-old when my parents along with other family members fled from Pakistan. I went there in 2008 but I find striking similarity between what my parents told and what I saw after visiting Pakistan after so many years. Nothing has changed. Even today, many Hindus and minorities staying in Pakistan face rampant discrimination and threats on religious grounds. All they want is to return to India for a safer life," said Visah Tiwari. He went to Pakistan in 2008 for renewing his passport as mandated by the Pakistan government. Rajinder, originally hailing from Peshawar, came to India in 2012 but he sent his family ahead of him in 2005 after the Taliban came to their area and demanded extortion of Rs 6 crore. "We were asked to pay the amount then and there or face execution. I somehow managed to send my wife and children to India," he said. His extended family is still in Peshawar. Ram Charan (name changed), another Hindu migrant from Peshawar, said, "I escaped to India in 1994 at the age of 14. In Peshawar, I saw how people were being bombed. When my father used to go out to earn, I would quietly pray inside our home that I should not hear about his demise. I also have a sister, I used to live in fear because young women were being kidnapped on broad daylight and nobody dares to resist." As per the existing Citizenship Act, 1955 a migrant is declared 'illegal migrant' if they entered India or overstayed without any travel document. The present amended bill says that citizenship will be provided to people who were forced to flee from their country after being subjected to religious persecution or fear of persecution in their homeland, primarily Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Hindu, Sikh refugees from Pakistan hopeful for passage of Citizenship Bill

<p>Firing and lathi-charge by security forces to quell protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in West Tripura district earlier this week triggered 'bandh' in large parts of the northeastern state Saturday.</p>

<p>Agitators in neighbouring Assam and Mizoram too joined the stir against the bill that aims to provide citizenship to illegal migrants of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian extraction from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, the day the bill was passed in Lok Sabha, seven people were injured in Madhabbari area of the district when police and the paramilitary forces resorted to lathi-charge and fired in the air to disperse protesters.</p>

<p>Normal life was crippled during the dawn-to-dusk bandh on Saturday in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which comprises two-thirds of Tripura's territory and is home to tribals who constitute a third of the state's population.</p>

<p>The bandh call was given by five indigenous parties - Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT-Tipraha), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra, Twipra State Party, National Conference of Tripura and Tripura People's Party - to protest against the police firing.</p>

<p>Sunil Dev Debbarma, general secretary of Tripura Students Federation, said the seven injured in the lathi charge are admitted to a hospital but said to be stable.</p>

<p>Khumulwng town, the headquarters of the tribal council around 18km from Agartala, remained deserted as shops were closed and markets were closed and vehicles stayed off roads. Schools, colleges and government offices also remained shut, police said.</p>

<p>There was no report of any violence from any part of the council during the bandh, said Subrata Chakraborty, the state additional inspector general (law and order).</p>

<p>"There were road blockades by bandh supporters in at least three districts Kalacherra, S K Para and Neilahabari in Dhalai district, Sachirambari in South Tripura district, Amarpur and Takcherra in Gomati district," Chakraborty said.</p>

<p>The officer said there was no road blockade or demonstration near Khumulwng town and adjacent areas.</p>

<p>When contacted, Radha Charan Debbarma, TTAADC chief executive member and prominent leader of the opposition CPI(M), said the situation in the council area remained peaceful.</p>

<p>"Over 1,800 schools and eight colleges in TTAADC area remained closed and no employee turned up at their offices. Everything, including markets and shops, remained closed and vehicles remained off roads," Debbarma said.</p>

<p>West Tripura Superintendent of Police Ajit Pratap Singh said the situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas was normal.</p>

<p>The ban on Internet services and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have been lifted, Singh said.</p>

<p>Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has ordered a magisterial inquiry into how and under what circumstances police opened fire on protesters in Madhabbari.</p>

<p>During the bandh, Twipra State Party members wore black badges and took out rallies with black flags in several places, TSP general secretary Sunil Debbarma said.</p>

<p>A motorbike rally with participants carrying black flags was organised in Barkathal in West Tripura district, he said.</p>

<p>In the neighbouring Assam, the North East Students Organisation (NESO) observed a 'black day' to protest the firing incident in Tripura.</p>

<p>The All Assam Students Union, a constituent of NESO, hoisted a black flag at its headquarters in Guwahati and student activists protested across the state.</p>

<p>AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya, who had gone to Tripura with a team of NESO members, said they were stopped by police when they were proceeding towards Khumulwung Hospital to visit the injured persons after meeting other injured people at G B Pant Hospital.</p>

<p>He alleged that the Tripura Chief Minister Deb does not understand the pain of the indigenous people.</p>

<p>"We condemn the high-handed attitude of BJP government in Tripura and protest against it by observing today as 'black day', he added.</p>

<p>In Mizoram, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl or Mizo student federation, a constituent of NESO, had called for protests.</p>

<p>Black flags were hoisted at several places in the state capital Aizawl by MZP activists.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Firing and lathi-charge by security forces to quell protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in West Tripura district earlier this week triggered 'bandh' in large parts of the northeastern state Saturday.

Firing and lathi-charge by security forces to quell protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in West Tripura district earlier this week triggered 'bandh' in large parts of the northeastern state Saturday. Agitators in neighbouring Assam and Mizoram too joined the stir against the bill that aims to provide citizenship to illegal migrants of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian extraction from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. On Tuesday, the day the bill was passed in Lok Sabha, seven people were injured in Madhabbari area of the district when police and the paramilitary forces resorted to lathi-charge and fired in the air to disperse protesters. Normal life was crippled during the dawn-to-dusk bandh on Saturday in Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which comprises two-thirds of Tripura's territory and is home to tribals who constitute a third of the state's population. The bandh call was given by five indigenous parties - Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT-Tipraha), Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra, Twipra State Party, National Conference of Tripura and Tripura People's Party - to protest against the police firing. Sunil Dev Debbarma, general secretary of Tripura Students Federation, said the seven injured in the lathi charge are admitted to a hospital but said to be stable. Khumulwng town, the headquarters of the tribal council around 18km from Agartala, remained deserted as shops were closed and markets were closed and vehicles stayed off roads. Schools, colleges and government offices also remained shut, police said. There was no report of any violence from any part of the council during the bandh, said Subrata Chakraborty, the state additional inspector general (law and order). "There were road blockades by bandh supporters in at least three districts Kalacherra, S K Para and Neilahabari in Dhalai district, Sachirambari in South Tripura district, Amarpur and Takcherra in Gomati district," Chakraborty said. The officer said there was no road blockade or demonstration near Khumulwng town and adjacent areas. When contacted, Radha Charan Debbarma, TTAADC chief executive member and prominent leader of the opposition CPI(M), said the situation in the council area remained peaceful. "Over 1,800 schools and eight colleges in TTAADC area remained closed and no employee turned up at their offices. Everything, including markets and shops, remained closed and vehicles remained off roads," Debbarma said. West Tripura Superintendent of Police Ajit Pratap Singh said the situation in Madhabbari and adjacent areas was normal. The ban on Internet services and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure have been lifted, Singh said. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has ordered a magisterial inquiry into how and under what circumstances police opened fire on protesters in Madhabbari. During the bandh, Twipra State Party members wore black badges and took out rallies with black flags in several places, TSP general secretary Sunil Debbarma said. A motorbike rally with participants carrying black flags was organised in Barkathal in West Tripura district, he said. In the neighbouring Assam, the North East Students Organisation (NESO) observed a 'black day' to protest the firing incident in Tripura. The All Assam Students Union, a constituent of NESO, hoisted a black flag at its headquarters in Guwahati and student activists protested across the state. AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya, who had gone to Tripura with a team of NESO members, said they were stopped by police when they were proceeding towards Khumulwung Hospital to visit the injured persons after meeting other injured people at G B Pant Hospital. He alleged that the Tripura Chief Minister Deb does not understand the pain of the indigenous people. "We condemn the high-handed attitude of BJP government in Tripura and protest against it by observing today as 'black day', he added. In Mizoram, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl or Mizo student federation, a constituent of NESO, had called for protests. Black flags were hoisted at several places in the state capital Aizawl by MZP activists.

Bandh in Northeast states after police fire on people protesting against Citizenship Bill in Tripura

<p>As protests continued unabated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 in Assam, a group of protesters vandalised a BJP office, police said on Friday.</p>

<p>The protestors belonging to Oikya Sena Asom on Thursday night vandalised the office in Palashbari area, a report said.</p>

<p>The protesters also set fire to the effigies of Prime Minister Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and also blocked the national highway shouting slogans against the BJP-led NDA government.</p>

<p>Later, the police took the agitators into custody.</p>

<p>Assam has witness protests since the Union Cabinet on Monday approved the Bill that aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for citizenship of India, after a Joint Parliamentary Committee submitted its recommendations to the Lok Sabha.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has snapped its ties with the BJP over the Bill and it`s three ministers resigned, four members of the Central government nominated a high powered committee to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord have also declined to participate.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, the northeastern states observed a total shutdown in protest.</p>


As protests continued unabated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 in Assam, a group of protesters vandalised a BJP office, police said on Friday. The protestors belonging to Oikya Sena Asom on Thursday night vandalised the office in Palashbari area, a report said.

As protests continued unabated against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 in Assam, a group of protesters vandalised a BJP office, police said on Friday. The protestors belonging to Oikya Sena Asom on Thursday night vandalised the office in Palashbari area, a report said. The protesters also set fire to the effigies of Prime Minister Modi, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, and also blocked the national highway shouting slogans against the BJP-led NDA government. Later, the police took the agitators into custody. Assam has witness protests since the Union Cabinet on Monday approved the Bill that aims to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for citizenship of India, after a Joint Parliamentary Committee submitted its recommendations to the Lok Sabha. While the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has snapped its ties with the BJP over the Bill and it`s three ministers resigned, four members of the Central government nominated a high powered committee to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord have also declined to participate. On Tuesday, the northeastern states observed a total shutdown in protest.

BJP office vandalised in Assam over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 

<p>Senior Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said he would break the prohibitory order and court arrest if the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/citizenship-bill-sonowal-says-interests-of-indigenous-people-will-be-protected-189460">Citizenship (Amendment) Bill</a> was not withdrawn by the Centre.</p>

<p>By prohibiting all sorts of protests, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Assam government was curtailing the democratic rights of people and running the state in an autocratic manner, he added.</p>

<p>"I will violate (section) 144 (of the Code of Criminal Procedure) if you (Centre) do not withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. I will lead people and shout slogans. I will go to jail -- a jail bharo (movement)," Gogoi told reporters here.</p>

<p>In view of protests on a daily basis against the bill, the Guwahati police on Thursday banned all sorts of agitations, demonstrations, processions and slogan-shouting in large parts of Guwahati under section 144 of the CrPC.&nbsp;</p>


Senior Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said he would break the prohibitory order and court arrest if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was not withdrawn by the Centre.

Senior Congress leader and former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said he would break the prohibitory order and court arrest if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was not withdrawn by the Centre. By prohibiting all sorts of protests, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Assam government was curtailing the democratic rights of people and running the state in an autocratic manner, he added. "I will violate (section) 144 (of the Code of Criminal Procedure) if you (Centre) do not withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. I will lead people and shout slogans. I will go to jail -- a jail bharo (movement)," Gogoi told reporters here. In view of protests on a daily basis against the bill, the Guwahati police on Thursday banned all sorts of agitations, demonstrations, processions and slogan-shouting in large parts of Guwahati under section 144 of the CrPC.

Citizenship Bill: Ex-Assam CM Tarun Gogoi says he will violate prohibitory order

<p>The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 has been passed in the Parliament on Tuesday after a discussion regarding various <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/agp-pulls-out-of-alliance-with-bjp-in-assam-after-the-union-cabinet-approves-citizenship-amendment-bill-188833">clauses of the Bill.</a></p>

<p>The Bill seeks to enable Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh without valid travel documents or those whose valid documents expired in recent years to acquire Indian citizenship through the process of naturalisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We want that the minorities of other countries should remain in their countries peacefully, but unfortunately that is not happening, which is why this Bill is being proposed," said Rajnath Singh while debating on The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.</p>

<p>Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Rajnath Singh appeals to the people of Assam and says their customs, tradition, linguistics and culture will be protected by the Centre. Singh said that the burden of the Citizenship Bill will not fall only on Assam, but the entire country.</p>

<p>Earlier, moving the bill for passage, Rajnath Singh said it will help the migrants who had "faced problematic conditions" including religious prosecution in the three countries get citizenship of the country.</p>

<p>He said religious minorities in Pakistan have been facing systematic discrimination and, though the present governments in Afghanistan and Bangladesh, were committed to the welfare of the minorities, they have faced problems in the past.</p>

<p>He said no other country except India could have provided interim protection from punitive legal action to minorities facing difficulties in the neighbouring countries.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 has been passed in the Parliament on Tuesday after a discussion regarding various clauses of the Bill. The Bill seeks to enable Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh without valid travel documents or those whose valid documents expired in recent years to acquire Indian citizenship through the process of naturalisation.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 has been passed in the Parliament on Tuesday after a discussion regarding various clauses of the Bill. The Bill seeks to enable Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh without valid travel documents or those whose valid documents expired in recent years to acquire Indian citizenship through the process of naturalisation. "We want that the minorities of other countries should remain in their countries peacefully, but unfortunately that is not happening, which is why this Bill is being proposed," said Rajnath Singh while debating on The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Rajnath Singh appeals to the people of Assam and says their customs, tradition, linguistics and culture will be protected by the Centre. Singh said that the burden of the Citizenship Bill will not fall only on Assam, but the entire country. Earlier, moving the bill for passage, Rajnath Singh said it will help the migrants who had "faced problematic conditions" including religious prosecution in the three countries get citizenship of the country. He said religious minorities in Pakistan have been facing systematic discrimination and, though the present governments in Afghanistan and Bangladesh, were committed to the welfare of the minorities, they have faced problems in the past. He said no other country except India could have provided interim protection from punitive legal action to minorities facing difficulties in the neighbouring countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 passed in Lok Sabha

<p>Several students' bodies of the north-eastern region have decided to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/assam-bandh-against-citizenship-bill-evokes-widespread-response-173026">observe a "bandh" on Tuesday</a> in support of the call given by an influential students' union to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/protests-against-citizenship-bill-rock-assam-cm-asks-the-public-to-keep-calm-188444">protest the proposed Citizens Amendment Bill, 2016.</a></p>

<p>The Mizo Zirlai Pawal (MZP), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and the All Assam Students Union (AASU) have extended their support to the 11-hour "bandh" called by the North East Students' Organisation (NESO).</p>

<p>The "bandh" has also been called to condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would be passed in Parliament soon, a NESO leader said.</p>

<p>"Despite staging various dharnas even in New Delhi by students' bodies from the north-east, the Centre is hell-bent to pass the controversial bill, undermining the sentiments of the indigenous people of the region," NESO coordinator Pritambai Sonam told reporters at Itanagar on Sunday.</p>

<p>Modi had said at a rally near Silchar in Assam's Barak Valley on Friday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would soon be passed in Parliament as a "penance against the injustice and many wrongs done in the past".</p>

<p>MZP general secretary Lalnunmawia Pautu said the 11-hour bandh would begin from 5 am in Aizawl on Tuesday.</p>

<p>He added that the people of the north-east were against the proposed amendment as it would grant citizenship to people on religious grounds.</p>

<p>In Mizoram, it would mean legalising thousands of Buddhist Chakmas who had illegally entered the state from Bangladesh, Pautu said.</p>

<p>The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.</p>

<p>Demanding immediate scrapping of the bill, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said, "If the bill is passed, we will be left with no option but to take up arms to protect our indigenous population."</p>

<p>The NSF, in a press release, said as a constituent of the NESO, it had apprised the Centre of the detrimental effects of the bill if it was passed in Parliament.</p>

<p>Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya, the chief advisor of the NESO and AASU, had told a press conference in Guwahati on Saturday that the "bandh" was called by the two organisations, along with 30 allied ethnic organisations in Assam, to oppose the bill and condemn the prime minister's statement.</p>


The 'bandh' has also been called to condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would be passed in Parliament soon, a NESO leader said.

Several students' bodies of the north-eastern region have decided to observe a "bandh" on Tuesday in support of the call given by an influential students' union to protest the proposed Citizens Amendment Bill, 2016. The Mizo Zirlai Pawal (MZP), the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and the All Assam Students Union (AASU) have extended their support to the 11-hour "bandh" called by the North East Students' Organisation (NESO). The "bandh" has also been called to condemn Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent statement that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would be passed in Parliament soon, a NESO leader said. "Despite staging various dharnas even in New Delhi by students' bodies from the north-east, the Centre is hell-bent to pass the controversial bill, undermining the sentiments of the indigenous people of the region," NESO coordinator Pritambai Sonam told reporters at Itanagar on Sunday. Modi had said at a rally near Silchar in Assam's Barak Valley on Friday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 would soon be passed in Parliament as a "penance against the injustice and many wrongs done in the past". MZP general secretary Lalnunmawia Pautu said the 11-hour bandh would begin from 5 am in Aizawl on Tuesday. He added that the people of the north-east were against the proposed amendment as it would grant citizenship to people on religious grounds. In Mizoram, it would mean legalising thousands of Buddhist Chakmas who had illegally entered the state from Bangladesh, Pautu said. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced in the Lok Sabha to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014. Demanding immediate scrapping of the bill, AAPSU president Hawa Bagang said, "If the bill is passed, we will be left with no option but to take up arms to protect our indigenous population." The NSF, in a press release, said as a constituent of the NESO, it had apprised the Centre of the detrimental effects of the bill if it was passed in Parliament. Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya, the chief advisor of the NESO and AASU, had told a press conference in Guwahati on Saturday that the "bandh" was called by the two organisations, along with 30 allied ethnic organisations in Assam, to oppose the bill and condemn the prime minister's statement.

Students across North East support 'bandh' against Citizenship Amendment Bill

<p>US President Donald Trump <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-birthright-citizenship-guarantee-of-the-14th-amendment-174507">warned today that the&nbsp;</a>"so-called birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other".</p>

<p>As critics warned that an executive order wouldn't be enough to bring in the change, the US president said "it is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” "Many legal scholars agree," the president added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Many legal scholars agree.....</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1057624553478897665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, citizenship is granted to "all persons born or naturalised in the United States." It was passed by Congress in 1866 after the civil war.</p>

<p>White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had said in an interview earlier that there was "more than just one piece of the puzzle" on immigration. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"President Trump’s new claim he can unilaterally end the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship shows Republicans’ spiralling desperation to distract from their assault on Medicare, Medicaid and people with pre-existing conditions," Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi said.</p>

<p>"Harry Reid was right in 1993, before he and the Democrats went insane and started with the open borders (which brings massive Crime) “stuff.” Don’t forget the nasty term anchor babies. I will keep our country safe. This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court!" the President said in his tweet.</p>

<p>"The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the stupidity they see!" he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see!</p>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1057638285026254848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) denounced Trump's statements as unconstitutional and a political manoeuvre ahead of November elections.</p>

<p>"This is a blatantly unconstitutional attempt to fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms," the ACLU said in a tweet.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, vice-president Pence waded into the debate, saying: "We all cherish the language of the 14th Amendment, but the Supreme Court of the United States has never ruled on whether or not the language of the 14th Amendment 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof' applies specifically to people who are in the country illegally."<br />
&nbsp;</p>


US President Donald Trump warned today that the "so-called birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other". As critics warned that an executive order wouldn't be enough to bring in the change, the US president said "it is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.

US President Donald Trump warned today that the "so-called birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other". As critics warned that an executive order wouldn't be enough to bring in the change, the US president said "it is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” "Many legal scholars agree," the president added. So-called Birthright Citizenship, which costs our Country billions of dollars and is very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one way or the other. It is not covered by the 14th Amendment because of the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Many legal scholars agree..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018 × Under the Constitution's 14th Amendment, citizenship is granted to "all persons born or naturalised in the United States." It was passed by Congress in 1866 after the civil war. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had said in an interview earlier that there was "more than just one piece of the puzzle" on immigration. "President Trump’s new claim he can unilaterally end the Constitution’s guarantee of citizenship shows Republicans’ spiralling desperation to distract from their assault on Medicare, Medicaid and people with pre-existing conditions," Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi said. "Harry Reid was right in 1993, before he and the Democrats went insane and started with the open borders (which brings massive Crime) “stuff.” Don’t forget the nasty term anchor babies. I will keep our country safe. This case will be settled by the United States Supreme Court!" the President said in his tweet. "The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the stupidity they see!" he added. The World is using our laws to our detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity they see! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018 × The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) denounced Trump's statements as unconstitutional and a political manoeuvre ahead of November elections. "This is a blatantly unconstitutional attempt to fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms," the ACLU said in a tweet. Meanwhile, vice-president Pence waded into the debate, saying: "We all cherish the language of the 14th Amendment, but the Supreme Court of the United States has never ruled on whether or not the language of the 14th Amendment 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof' applies specifically to people who are in the country illegally."

Birthright citizenship will be ended one way or the other, warns Trump

<p>The Indian government has recently introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Bill proposes that illegal immigrants in India belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan would be entitled to Indian citizenship after six years of residence even if they have no valid papers or passport.</p>

<p>Lawmakers have maintained that this move to grant Indian citizenship to the above categories of persons from neighbouring countries is based on &lsquo;humanitarian grounds&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Bill, however, ends up raising more questions than it seeks to address, including raising doubts on the government&rsquo;s actual humanitarian concern and also the impact of such a move.&nbsp;</p>

<p><b><i>First</i></b>, the most notable criticism of the Bill is that in this entire scheme, Muslims are conspicuous by their absence. In short, Muslim migrants would not be entitled to the benefit of such a law if it were to be passed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Muslim migrants would not be entitled to the benefit of such a law if it were to be passed</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Bill is seen by many as a consequence of the BJP&rsquo;s election promise in 2014 to grant citizenship to Hindus from Muslim majority countries. During its campaign, BJP had declared India to be a natural home for persecuted Hindus and said that it has a responsibility towards Hindus who are harassed in other countries. However, it was not mentioned at that time that no such responsibility would be taken for Muslims who are faced with similar circumstances.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If the government was moved only by humanitarian concern towards victims of religious persecution and displacement, it could not afford to exclude approximately 36,000 Rohingya Muslims who were forced to flee Myanmar due to the 2015 insurgency and are currently living in different parts of India and praying for asylum ever since.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Bill also conveniently overlooks the plight of Muslim sects like Shias and Ahmediyas who face persecution in Sunni-dominated Pakistan.</p>

<p><b><i>Second</i></b>, even keeping the visible exclusion of Muslims aside, the claims about humanitarian concerns further seem inconsistent due to other reasons. Neighbouring Sri Lanka, where Tamils have faced a history of persecution has been excluded from the ambit, raising a question whether it was thought that such inclusion would be more suited to the interests of regional political parties, such as the AIADMK and the DMK than BJP. Also questionable is the move to exclude migrants from countries like China, prompting the critics to ask whether the government has decided to adopt a safer foreign policy of not wanting to openly label China as an aggressor or burning any further bridges with them.</p>

<p><b><i>Third</i></b>, the Bill has been widely criticised on the ground that it fails to take into confidence or address concerns of indigenous people and their decades-long movement against illegal migrants. The prime case in point is Assam, which is already suffering from a high influx of migrants from Bangladesh. According to the Assam Accord, 1985, anyone entering India after 25<sup>th</sup> March, 1971, is an illegal citizen, irrespective of their religion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The Bill fails to take into confidence or address concerns of indigenous people and their decades long movement against illegal migrants</h5>
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<p>The Bill has neither tried to assuage the apprehensions of all the stakeholders nor has it made adequate provisions to avoid conflict with the Assam Accord. This move of the government also comes at a time when, based on the Assam Accord and upon the intervention of the Supreme Court of India, the Government of Assam is updating the National Register for Citizens to include people permanently residing in the state till 24<sup>th</sup> March, 1971 and to only treat such persons as citizens of the country.</p>

<p>Several Assamese organisations are protesting against this Bill due to the fear of exodus of religious minorities from Bangladesh amid rising attacks on them by militants as it may further complicate the already vulnerable demographic of Assam.</p>

<p><b><i>Fourth</i></b>, it is suggested by various quarters that even if the government decides to give shelter to victims of religious persecution from neighbouring countries on humanitarian ground, they should be only given &lsquo;Refugee&rsquo; status as per international law and not that of a &lsquo;Migrant&rsquo;.</p>

<p>&nbsp;The Bill seems to confuse &lsquo;Refugees&rsquo; with &lsquo;Migrants&rsquo; and overlooks this important distinction by terming religious minority people as migrants, when they would in fact be refugees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The Bill seems to confuse &lsquo;Refugees&rsquo; with &lsquo;Migrants&rsquo; and overlooks this important distinction by terming religious minority people as migrants, when they would in fact be refugees.&nbsp;</h5>
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<p>&lsquo;Migration&rsquo; means voluntary movement of people, usually for seeking better economic prospects. On the other hand, &lsquo;refuge&rsquo; is an involuntary act of forced movement, compelled by preservation of human rights and safety and not to gain any economic advantage. Using the correct terminology in the Bill is important as the laws and policies, especially under international law for migrants and refugees are entirely different.</p>

<p>Shelter to individuals of&nbsp;a select religion, however, by excluding others defeats the intention and rationality of international refugee laws.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Bill also plays foul with our own long-standing refugee policy. Even though India does not have a codified refugee policy, during the Tibetan refugee crisis, one of the main conditions was that refugees would have to return to their homeland once normalcy prevailed. In a direct contradiction, the proposed amendment not only provides citizenship rights to such refugees, but vastly relaxes the procedure to avail of such citizenship.</p>

<p>The Statement of Objects and Reasons of Bill maintains a studied silence on all the above issues. The Bill most importantly fails to explain why the Muslim community is being singled out in an apparent violation of Article 14 &ndash; Right to Equality &ndash; of the constitution. It was only after the Bill came under heavy criticism from opposition parties for being &lsquo;biased&rsquo; against one specific religion that it was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further examination.</p>

<p>The unfortunate trend that emerges is that be it any party in power, the citizenship laws have always been used by ruling governments to appease and consolidate their own respective vote banks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>The Citizenship laws have always been used by ruling Governments to appease and consolidate their own respective vote banks</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, the Congress government was forced to negotiate the Assam Accord, affecting primarily Muslims who, as a result stood debarred from obtaining Indian citizenship even after many years of residence. This in turn led to the electoral victory of Asom Gana Parishad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In order to dilute the effect of the Assam Accord, the Congress enacted the Illegal Migrant (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983, which provided for the detection and expulsion of illegal immigrants from Assam &ndash; all of them Bangladeshi Muslims. However, in an exercise in appeasement, it was ensured that the procedure provided in the Act and the implementation thereof was such that the expulsions were virtually negligible.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While favouring one community for electoral gains is bad enough, excluding the community altogether is even worse and severely undermines the otherwise secular socio-legal framework of our nation. It is a move that violates the policy of pluralism and co-existence on which the Indian polity is based.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court of India has stated on more than one occasion that secularism forms the basic structure of our constitution and cannot be done away with. The Bill may tend to do just the opposite.</p>

<p>Also, such a selective law based purely on religious identities sends out the wrong message of hostile, unreceptive nationalism, which considers itself to be under siege from other communities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Such a selective law based purely on religious identities sends out the wrong message of hostile, unreceptive nationalism, which considers itself to be under siege from other communities.&nbsp;</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Therefore, the Bill may have a polarising effect and would further increase the trust deficit between the ruling government and the muslim community, something which a mature, participative and inclusive democracy can ill afford.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is therefore hoped that the government would, rather than hastening with the Bill and taking a myopic view of things, agree to take into account the views of all those who are affected by the passage of the Bill and sufficiently answer their apprehensions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill raises doubts on the government?s actual humanitarian concern

The Indian government has recently introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Bill proposes that illegal immigrants in India belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan would be entitled to Indian citizenship after six years of residence even if they have no valid papers or passport. Lawmakers have maintained that this move to grant Indian citizenship to the above categories of persons from neighbouring countries is based on ‘humanitarian grounds’. The Bill, however, ends up raising more questions than it seeks to address, including raising doubts on the government’s actual humanitarian concern and also the impact of such a move. First, the most notable criticism of the Bill is that in this entire scheme, Muslims are conspicuous by their absence. In short, Muslim migrants would not be entitled to the benefit of such a law if it were to be passed. Muslim migrants would not be entitled to the benefit of such a law if it were to be passed × The Bill is seen by many as a consequence of the BJP’s election promise in 2014 to grant citizenship to Hindus from Muslim majority countries. During its campaign, BJP had declared India to be a natural home for persecuted Hindus and said that it has a responsibility towards Hindus who are harassed in other countries. However, it was not mentioned at that time that no such responsibility would be taken for Muslims who are faced with similar circumstances. If the government was moved only by humanitarian concern towards victims of religious persecution and displacement, it could not afford to exclude approximately 36,000 Rohingya Muslims who were forced to flee Myanmar due to the 2015 insurgency and are currently living in different parts of India and praying for asylum ever since. The Bill also conveniently overlooks the plight of Muslim sects like Shias and Ahmediyas who face persecution in Sunni-dominated Pakistan. Second, even keeping the visible exclusion of Muslims aside, the claims about humanitarian concerns further seem inconsistent due to other reasons. Neighbouring Sri Lanka, where Tamils have faced a history of persecution has been excluded from the ambit, raising a question whether it was thought that such inclusion would be more suited to the interests of regional political parties, such as the AIADMK and the DMK than BJP. Also questionable is the move to exclude migrants from countries like China, prompting the critics to ask whether the government has decided to adopt a safer foreign policy of not wanting to openly label China as an aggressor or burning any further bridges with them. Third, the Bill has been widely criticised on the ground that it fails to take into confidence or address concerns of indigenous people and their decades-long movement against illegal migrants. The prime case in point is Assam, which is already suffering from a high influx of migrants from Bangladesh. According to the Assam Accord, 1985, anyone entering India after 25th March, 1971, is an illegal citizen, irrespective of their religion. The Bill fails to take into confidence or address concerns of indigenous people and their decades long movement against illegal migrants × The Bill has neither tried to assuage the apprehensions of all the stakeholders nor has it made adequate provisions to avoid conflict with the Assam Accord. This move of the government also comes at a time when, based on the Assam Accord and upon the intervention of the Supreme Court of India, the Government of Assam is updating the National Register for Citizens to include people permanently residing in the state till 24th March, 1971 and to only treat such persons as citizens of the country. Several Assamese organisations are protesting against this Bill due to the fear of exodus of religious minorities from Bangladesh amid rising attacks on them by militants as it may further complicate the already vulnerable demographic of Assam. Fourth, it is suggested by various quarters that even if the government decides to give shelter to victims of religious persecution from neighbouring countries on humanitarian ground, they should be only given ‘Refugee’ status as per international law and not that of a ‘Migrant’. The Bill seems to confuse ‘Refugees’ with ‘Migrants’ and overlooks this important distinction by terming religious minority people as migrants, when they would in fact be refugees. The Bill seems to confuse ‘Refugees’ with ‘Migrants’ and overlooks this important distinction by terming religious minority people as migrants, when they would in fact be refugees. × ‘Migration’ means voluntary movement of people, usually for seeking better economic prospects. On the other hand, ‘refuge’ is an involuntary act of forced movement, compelled by preservation of human rights and safety and not to gain any economic advantage. Using the correct terminology in the Bill is important as the laws and policies, especially under international law for migrants and refugees are entirely different. Shelter to individuals of a select religion, however, by excluding others defeats the intention and rationality of international refugee laws. The Bill also plays foul with our own long-standing refugee policy. Even though India does not have a codified refugee policy, during the Tibetan refugee crisis, one of the main conditions was that refugees would have to return to their homeland once normalcy prevailed. In a direct contradiction, the proposed amendment not only provides citizenship rights to such refugees, but vastly relaxes the procedure to avail of such citizenship. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of Bill maintains a studied silence on all the above issues. The Bill most importantly fails to explain why the Muslim community is being singled out in an apparent violation of Article 14 – Right to Equality – of the constitution. It was only after the Bill came under heavy criticism from opposition parties for being ‘biased’ against one specific religion that it was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for further examination. The unfortunate trend that emerges is that be it any party in power, the citizenship laws have always been used by ruling governments to appease and consolidate their own respective vote banks. The Citizenship laws have always been used by ruling Governments to appease and consolidate their own respective vote banks × Earlier, the Congress government was forced to negotiate the Assam Accord, affecting primarily Muslims who, as a result stood debarred from obtaining Indian citizenship even after many years of residence. This in turn led to the electoral victory of Asom Gana Parishad. In order to dilute the effect of the Assam Accord, the Congress enacted the Illegal Migrant (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983, which provided for the detection and expulsion of illegal immigrants from Assam – all of them Bangladeshi Muslims. However, in an exercise in appeasement, it was ensured that the procedure provided in the Act and the implementation thereof was such that the expulsions were virtually negligible. While favouring one community for electoral gains is bad enough, excluding the community altogether is even worse and severely undermines the otherwise secular socio-legal framework of our nation. It is a move that violates the policy of pluralism and co-existence on which the Indian polity is based. The Supreme Court of India has stated on more than one occasion that secularism forms the basic structure of our constitution and cannot be done away with. The Bill may tend to do just the opposite. Also, such a selective law based purely on religious identities sends out the wrong message of hostile, unreceptive nationalism, which considers itself to be under siege from other communities. Such a selective law based purely on religious identities sends out the wrong message of hostile, unreceptive nationalism, which considers itself to be under siege from other communities. × Therefore, the Bill may have a polarising effect and would further increase the trust deficit between the ruling government and the muslim community, something which a mature, participative and inclusive democracy can ill afford. It is therefore hoped that the government would, rather than hastening with the Bill and taking a myopic view of things, agree to take into account the views of all those who are affected by the passage of the Bill and sufficiently answer their apprehensions.

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016: The politics of humanity

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