While the Opposition, including the Congress, opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill arguing that the Constitution does not permit the granting of citizenship based on religion, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday (December 4) approved the Centre's decision
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (December 4) approved the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh if they faced persecution in their countries.
Union minister for information and broadcasting Prakash Javadekar announced this at a briefing in Delhi on Wednesday morning. The contentious Bill is likely to be tabled next week in Parliament in the current Winter Session.
Earlier, Union home minister Amit Shah met several politicians and activists of Northeast states including the chief ministers of Manipur, Nagaland, and Assam to discuss the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
Apart from the chief ministers of the three states, the activists of North-East Forum for Indigenous People (NEFIP), Manipur People Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MANPAC) and members of the civil society were also present in the meeting at Assam Bhavan.
Opposition parties including Congress among others have opposed the Bill arguing that the Constitution does not permit the granting of citizenship based on religion.
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