Citizenship Amendment Bill tabled in Lok Sabha

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The government on Tuesday tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha amid protests by the Opposition.

The Bill seeks 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.

Under the 1955 Act, one of the requirements for citizenship by naturalisation is that the applicant must have resided in India during the last 12 months, and for 11 of the previous 14 years.

The Bill relaxes this 11-year requirement to six years for persons belonging to the all the six religions from the three countries.

Moving the bill, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the bill is not just for Assam but for other states too. He said it is also for migrants who have come from the Western borders and have settled down in Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi.

The Minister added that Assam is dealing with illegal migration for a long time and its burden is also of the country. He also said the government is committed for National Register of Citizens (NRC).  The Minister also asserted that there will be no discrimination in NRC.

The Minister said the Centre has taken several measures to implement the Assam Accord. He said a High-Level Committee has been set up to suggest safeguards for the protection of the Assamese identity, including reservation in the State Assembly and in jobs.

The committee will submit its report within six months.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that the bill should be sent to the Select Committee of the House. TMC leader Saugata Roy also echoed the same view.

Later, opposing the bill, members from the Congress and TMC staged a walkout.

The Hindu

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Leave a Comment