Citizenship Bill pulls through LS despite Opp protest

| | New Delhi
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Citizenship Bill pulls through LS despite Opp protest

Wednesday, 09 January 2019 | PNS | New Delhi

Citizenship Bill pulls through LS despite Opp protest

Amid opposition from the Congress, the TMC, Left parties and others as well National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies Janata Dal (United) and Shiv Sena, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved a Bill seeking to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The contentious Bill provides 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 even if they do not possess any document.

Piloting the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Opposition that the Bill was not against the provisions of the Constitution and would give succour to persecuted minorities in the three neighbouring countries.

Allaying apprehensions from Assam where its coalition partner Asom Gona Parishad (AGP) has resigned from the BJP-led State Government, the Home Minister said the law is not meant for Assam only but for the entire country which would bear its “burden”.

Congress and the TMC staged a walkout from the House in protest with the latter demanding that the Bill should have also included persecuted minorities from the Muslim community in these country. “It should have been a secular Bill..”, said TMC member Sugata Roy.

Describing the Bill as “divisive” and “insidious”, Roy said, “This is the worst form of vote-bank politics.” TMC sought that it be sent to select committee for further vetting.

The Congress said many States have opposed the Bill and it should be sent to a select committee.

The Bill was originally introduced in 2016 and was later sent to the JPC which submitted its report on Monday. On the basis of the recommendations of the JPC, a fresh Bill was introduced on Tuesday.

The Home Minister said minorities are persecuted in Pakistan and they have been taking shelter in India. He said though Governments in Bangladesh and Afghanistan are taking measures to protect non-Muslim minorities, still they are being persecuted there.

“They have no place to go to, except India,” he said, adding several leaders including first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru were in favour of giving shelter to persecuted minorities in the neighouring countries.

Seeking to assuage the concerns in the North-East, which saw an 11-hour bandh on Tuesday against the legislation, Singh said the proposed law will not be confined to Assam alone.

“The burden of those persecuted migrants will be shared by the whole country. Assam alone should not have to bear the entire burden. Government of India is committed to give all help to the State Government and people of Assam,” he said.

The BJP appeared to have been isolated over the issue as the AGP broke up with the saffron party while the NDA allies, the Shiv Sena and the JD(U), have opposed this legislation.

Mizoram and Meghalaya Governments have opposed the Bill by adopting resolution against it in their respective Cabinet meetings.

The Home Minister said the Union Cabinet has also approved grant of ST status to six communities of Assam namely Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Chutia, Tea Tribes, Moran and Matak.

The Union Cabinet’s decision can been seen as a balancing act by the Central Government to strong opposition to the Bill in Assam.

“At the same time, full safeguards will be provided to protect the interests, rights and privileges of existing Scheduled Tribes of Assam.

“A separate Bill will be brought to grant ST status to Bodo Kacharis in Hill districts of Assam and Karbis in the rest of Assam. Sixth Schedule of the Constitution is also proposed to be amended to strengthen the Autonomous District Councils,” Rajnath said.

The Home Minister said the migrants -- Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis -- were earlier given protection against legal action in 2015 and 2016.

“Long-term visa provision was made for them. The proposed amendment will make these persecuted migrants eligible to apply for citizenship,” he said.

He said citizenship will be given to them only after due scrutiny and recommendation of district authorities and the State Government. The minimum residency period for citizenship in India is proposed to be reduced from existing 12 years under the present law to six years.

The legislation also seeks to provide relief to persecuted migrants who have come through western borders of the country to States like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and other States, the Home Minister said.

The Bill will apply to all States and Union Territories of the country and the beneficiaries of Citizenship Amendment Bill will be able to reside in any State of the country.

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