Parliament HIGHLIGHTS: Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill

9:42 PM

Citizenship Bill unconstitutional, will totally destroy minorities: Deve Gowda

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday said he was opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill as "it will totally destroy minorities and is unconstitutional".

9:24 PM

9:18 PM

Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill

Rajya Sabha on Wednesday approved the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, completing the legislative procedure for giving Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

 

Replying to a six-and-a-half-hour debate on the bill, Home Minister Amit Shah said the legislation seeks to provide citizenship to persecuted minorities in the three countries and not take away citizenship of anyone. He rejected the Opposition charge that the bill was against Muslims and said they have nothing to fear.

 

The Bill was passed with 125 votes in favour and 105 against it. Besides BJP, its allies such as JD-U and SAD, the legislation was supported by AIADMK, BJD, TDP and YSR-Congress.

9:16 PM

9:15 PM

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9:01 PM

Amit Shah says citizenship bill not anti-Muslim, rejects Oppn charge that it is unconstitutional

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday rejected the Opposition's charge that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was anti-Muslim, saying it does not take away the citizenship of any Indian Muslim and only seeks to given the same to persecuted minorities of three neighbouring countries.

 

Replying to a debate on the bill in Rajya Sabha, he said the need to bring this Bill would not have arisen had Partition not taken place on the basis of religion. The Bill does not snatch citizenship of Muslims and their is no need for them to have any fear, he said.

8:55 PM

8:52 PM

8:49 PM

Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Bill

8:08 PM

7:50 PM

Curfew imposed in Guwahati extended till indefinite period amid violent protests

Curfew imposed on Wednesday in Assam's Guwahati was extended till indefinite period, amid violent protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, a senior police official said.

 

The curfew, which was imposed at 6.15 pm, has been extended till indefinite period, Assam Police Additional Director General (Law and Order) Mukesh Agrawal told PTI.

7:29 PM

Shiv Sena supported citizenship bill in Lok Sabha, what changed overnight that they are now opposing it, asks Amit Shah

7:28 PM

Sikkim will continue to enjoy rights under Article 371, no dilution: Home Minister Amit Shah

7:28 PM

Home Minister Shah assures Assam that govt is committed to preserving language, culture of state.