After a heated debate over the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) the Rajya Sabha passed the bill with 125 Ayes and 105 Noes.
Bengaluru: The Rajya Sabha passed the historic Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) with 125 Ayes and 105 Noes. The debate on the bill lasted for 8 hours.
Interesingly, the Shiva Sena boycotted the voting, thereby having contradictory views on the matter.
The Rajya Sabha also did not vote in favour of sending the bill for a select panel.
PM Modi called it a landmark day.
A landmark day for India and our nation’s ethos of compassion and brotherhood!
Glad that the has been passed in the . 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.
Earlier, speaking in response to the allegations levelled by the opposition parties, Union home minister was at his fiery best as he gave pinpointed and precise answers to dismantle their arguments.
On the issue of leaving out Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, he said, “In countries which have declared their official religion to be Islam, how can Muslims be persecuted religiously?”
He also embarrassed the Congress for not appreciating Modi government’s move to accommodate all other religions except Muslims.
He said, “The Congress’s definition of secularism is very shallow. Is secularism only about Muslims? Are Muslims the only minorities?”
The home minister also emphatically downplayed the fearmongering among Muslims.
He said, “No Muslim in India needs to worry due to this bill. Don’t get scared if someone tries to scare you. This is Narendra Modi’s government working in accordance with the constitution and minorities will get full protection.”
The minister was also riveting in his reply on the charges of Nazi ideology being followed in India.
He said, “India is and will always be a democracy.”
The home minister also had this to say about Rohingyas not being welcomed in India. He said, “Rohingyas don’t come to India directly. They go to Bangladesh and then come to India.”
At an obvious jibe against the Shiva Sena which said it would vote in favour of the bill in the Rajya Sabha only after certain points are answered, the home minster replied, “There are some parties which change colours for power. They change overnight. I don’t know what happened overnight.”
On the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils not being included, he said, “8-9 lakh Tamils from Sri Lanka were given Indian citizenship in the past.”
On the allegations of the policies of Narendra Modi being anti-Muslim, he said, “None of our policies, be it abrogation of 370 or triple talaq are anti-Muslim.”
The home minister also wondered as to why Congress members were speaking on similar lines of Pakistan PM Imran Khan.
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