Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill

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NEW DELHI | DEC 11, 2019:

Amid uproar and protest, the Rajya Sabha today passed the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2019.

While some parts of Northeast continue to burn over this bill, the CAB finally got the clearance of both the houses and is set to become a law. The Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed with 125 MPs voting in favour and 105 against it.

Rajya Sabha negated the motion for sending Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 to Select Committee. 124 members voted against it while 99 members voted in its favour. The motion was moved by CPI(M) MP, KK Ragesh.

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Rajya Sabha Live TV

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6:30 -7:30 PM

Home Minister, Amit Shah replied to the debate in the House. "We came to power not only to form the government but to serve."

This bill should have been brought 50 years ago. If so, situations wouldn't have aggravated so much.

During UPA govt, the then Rajasthan govt wrote to then HM P Chidambaram stating outstanding issue of large no. of Pak refugees from Hindu and Sikh communities. 13000 people from two religions only were benefited. Whereas, we have included refugees from 6 religions.

"The Bill has nothing to do with electoral politics… the bill was first brought in 2015 when there were no elections round…"

The union Minister clarified that no minority in this country, including Muslims, are going to be affected by this bill. "This is not about their citizenship. This is for migrants.Please don't do politics over this bill," he said.

Shah replied to Sikkim MP on Article 371 and stated that the bill does not dilute the article 371 which protects Sikkim.

HM refused to accept that this bill is anti-Muslims.

Home Minister Amit Shah said that this Bill is not going to hurt anyone's sentiments or make people of any community upset. The people who are worried that minorities of this country will be subjected to injustice, it will not happen.

6:13PM:

Law Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad explained the stand of the government and said that the bill does not violate the Article 14 of the Constitution. The law which is being discussed is constitutional and valid. Says Parliament has the powers to pass this bill under Article 246 which gives Parliament power to make laws on any of the matters enumerated in List I in the Seventh Schedule ( Union List)

6:00PM

Leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad questioned the motive of the government to select only three countries. "What about Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, are they not our neighbouring countries? Why did you leave out the persecuted Muslims in our neighbouring countries?" He said that Northeast is burning in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

5:40PM

KK Ragesh, CPI (M) MP from Kerala opposed the bill determining it "unconstitutional and it violates of the Assam accord. He said that the government is changing basis of citizenship and also legalizing religious discrimination; giving citizenship to all migrants except Muslims. "You explains that this bill is only for persecuted minorities, then what happened to Rohingya Muslims who were persecuted in Burma or Shias discriminated in Pakistan and Tamils discriminated in Sri Lanka…These arguments are ridiculous. The minister trying to hide the real agenda which is Hindu Ratra.. Only cowards have hidden agenda. we are a democratic country and bunch of thoughts not our constitution, but unfortunately, our home minister and government think that a bunch of thoughts is the Constitution of India… The fact ss that the government is diverting the attention of people from various serious issues like economic slowdown," he said.

5:30PM:

Bhupender Yadav, BJP MP from Rajasthan supported the bill stating that India is giving refuge to people from other neighbouring countries. "But why is the Congress opposing?" he asked even as he reminded the house of the memorandum sent by then Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi a few years back to then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh seeking protection of religious minorities who are persecuted in Bangladesh. But BJP has the political will to make things happen, he said adding, "Modi hai, Mumkin hai". He further stated that the government has taken into consideration the concerns raised by Northeastern states including Assam.

5:15PM

Wansuk Syiem, INC MP from Meghalaya stood up to oppose the bill "tooth and nail" as it will "spread sense a fear and hatred amongst communities who have lived in harmony in the state for many years… Meghalaya was carved out in 1972 and have been suffering influx with Bangladeshi immigrants coming to India through Northeast causing distress and threats to the indigenous tribes." She pointed out that this bill wouldn't save Shillong urban areas from becoming a ghetto and slum. "For many for many years, the tribals have been trying to preserve the ethnic culture and traditions… Many NGOs and students' unions have been trying to propose mechanisms to check influx of illegal immigrants but till date, we don't have an entry restriction as a gesture of generosity. I request the Centre to make Meghalaya, which is already battered by illegal immigrants, an ILP state or include Shillong urban areas within the ambit of Schedule areas," she said. Furthermore, she asserted that Meghalaya opposes this "superstitious" move of the Centre. "My state has already suffered the burden of sharing resources and privileges with immigrants and we will fight to protect our the indigenous tribes, identities at all cause and sacrifice," she added.

5:01PM

Ronald Sapa Tlau, INC MP from Mizoram while opposing this bill said he smells something fishy and sinister. "The government is talking about protecting the minority whereas we see a lot of religious hate crimes in the country where 63 cow vigilante attacks were reported from 2014-2017 leaving 28 dead and 124 injured…India ranks 15th in the world in terms of danger for Christians and other minority religious groups. It has climbed from 31st position four years ago. Hence India has become home of Christians and other minority religious groups' persecution." he reminded that in the1960s, many Buddhist Chakmas entered into India to work in a construction of a dam and now many of them are settled in some parts of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh; "Now their population is half the population of the Mizos in Mizoram which is threat to the people if this bill is passed and they are given citizenship."

4:50PM

Dr S Swamy, nominated MP of the BJP while supporting the bill said that the Congress of confusing the bill with NRC. "If you look at percentage of population of Hindus, Jains, Parsis, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs in 1952 in Pakistan and today, there is a sharp decline in a ll these various religious groups. Bill is most appropriation after years and years of recognition of this problem…BJP has acted instead of giving speeches and passing resolutions. Art 14 does not bar this amendment because it has been in number of judgements."

4:40PM

Ripun Bora, INC Assam opposed the Bill and said that Assam and Northeast are burning and lakhs of people are in the streets to protest against this bill. "you have finished Assam and NE and now you are going to finish the entire county with the Bill… It is a question of security of our country." If you don't have information and data, on what basis are you going to grant citizenship. "What is your ulterior agenda?" he asked.

4:35PM

DK Reddy JD(s) opposed the Bill as it divides people on basis of religion and request the govt to refer the Bill to selective committee of parliament.

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4:33PM

B. Reddy YSRCP supported the Bill in letter in spirit, however maintained that the influx of immigrants shall not be tolerated. Training guns against the Congress Reddy said "it is ironical for the Congress to speak about values in politics, when they themselves always files false cases against the other political parties.

4:30PM

R. Banerjee, IND MP from West Bengal opposed the Bill. "We must not partition our soil".

4:23PM

Sanjay Singh, AAP, oppose the bill said you care so much about persecuted Hindus from Another country when you can't even protect the people in India who have beeen chased from severaql states in UP Bihar and Assam.

"What are you trying top do? you are trying to break the country", he said.

Binoy Viswam, CPI opposing the bill said "This is a secular country, the country has no religion and its people believe in various faiths".

4:09PM

K. G Kenye, NPF Nagaland supporting the bill said, the bill has to be looked into by the centre because our concerns have been partially addressed. However, this bill needs to be studied thoroughly as any loopholes can pose a threat to integration of our nation.

"I support this bill. People in north-east have no religious bias and aren't communal…It's not about religion, minority or majority communities. It's about illegal migrants who've come into our region and are threatening to run over our population."

3:55PM

Vaiko MDMK: If this bill is passed it will be a 'Black chapter' in upper house and is an unconstitutional Bill. This bill is an assault on democracy, equality and secularism. "This Bill should be thrown in the Bay of Bengal".

3:43PM

Kapil Sibat, INC slams Amit Shah says, Congress believes in one nation theory and the two-nation was perpetrated by Savarkar. Religion cannot be a factor in considering if a person should be granted citizenship. How do you distinguish between one illegal immigrant and another illegal immigrant.

"How do you know that the person has been persecuted if the person doesn't say that he has been persecuted?" asks Kapil.

Balwinder Singh Bhunder of SAD supports bill but points out it has many loopholes.

3:29PM

Mir MD. Fayaz, PDP, opposing the bill said that his Bill has targeted the Muslim community directly.

Abdul Wahab of IUML repeats his party's stand that the bill is discriminatory and against the Constitution.

Hishey Lachungpa of Sikkim Democratic Front says the bill will seriously affect the interests of the state, especially since it is not included in the Inner Line Permit.

3:22PM

Praful Patel, NCP, opposing the Bill said that the bill is a blunder and govt went for it to hide loopholes in NRC.

Prof Manoj Kumar Jha, RJD: The bill is morally bad and constitutionally bad. If it's morally bad and constitutionally bad, then it shouldn't be implemented.

He said, Where have we reached? Think once, you might be committing a great blunder. A state which persecutes does not differentiate between A,B or C. 

3:16PM

Satish Chandra Misra of BSP, opposing the bill said there should not be any favouritism. "The preamble speak about secularism and Article 14 that everybody should be treated equal. It is violation of Article 14."

"Why are you violating the law by excluding Muslims, such an act in the Constitutional struture of the country will be lost", he said.

2:56PM

Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena: 'those questioning the bill cannot be called anti-national'

AIADMK support Bill, but request the Centre to include Tamil migrants from Sri Lanka

2:53PM

P Chidambaram: This is slap on the face of Parliament. This will be passed in Parliament knowing it's unconstitutional and lawyers and judges will decide whether it's constitutional.


"Why has the Govt bunched only 3 of our neighbours and not the rest with whom we share borders? Why has the Govt only looking at the religiously persecuted?", this classification is irrational, he said.

P Chidambaram: Why has Sri Lankan Hindus and Bhutanese Christians been left out?

2:32PM

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party MP Tiruchi Siva: "Why did you cherrypick these three countries. Your attempts are pointing to one community… Think of those Muslims who didn't respond to Jinnah's call. I humbly convey to Home Minister against segregating people on the basis of the community," Tiruchi Siva said.

2:23PM

CPI(M) MP TK Rangarajan: Home Minister has got his facts wrong…there are Muslim communities in Pakistan that are persecuted..there are Tamil Hindus that are persecuted in Sri Lanka. We believe that protection should be given to be all who are persecuted and definitely not on the basis of religion….this bill is unconstitutional.

Bangladesh is the third largest Hindu state…if you pass this bill and if there is a repercussion on Hindus there, who will be responsible?" CPI(M) MP TK Rangarajan said.

2:20PM

Dr Keshava Rao of Telangana Rashtra Samithi party: This bill is against the idea of India and against our civilisational ethos. This bill is against Muslims. It cannot be read in isolation. It has to be read along with the NRC.

He said: What is the fear in Assam today? The fear is that some may not remain a citizen of this nation. We agree that that persecuted religious minorities should be protected…but no community should be excluded. There is no need to have a second thought on this bill…rather this bill should be withdrawn.

2:17PM

Derek O Brien: "On a winter November you separated poor from their money…with GST you separated businessmen from profit…with Abrogation of article 370 you separated Kashmiris from their homes…with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill you are separating people from their nation…the TMC will not allow NRC in not just in Bengal but across the country".

2:09PM

JD(U)'s Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, supporting CAB said that the party supports the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "We have had Presidents and CJIs from minority communities," Singh said. Singh's statement has put to rest the speculation over the JD(U)'s stand over the bill as several members of the party, including party general secretary Pavan Varma, opposed it.

JD(U)'s Ram Chandra Prasad Singh: Derek O'brien said that detention centers are like concentration camps. But there is a huge difference. They imprisoned their own people, we are not doing that and if ever minorities of India are persecuted then JD(U) will not hold back.

2:00PM

Amit Shah: In northeastern states, we will try to address the issues raised by them about the law. We repeat our commitment to preserving the language, culture, and social identity rights of northeastern states. There are provisions to preserve these rights. The concern of the northeast will be addressed, we had said this earlier.

SR Balasubramoniyan AIADMK: We support the bill, but I request the Prime Minister to include Muslims too.

Javed Ali Khan, Samajwadi Party: The PM said Muslims of this country have nothing to do with this Bill. Does this mean that Muslim have no stake in the laws made in the House? On laws that challenge the articles of the Constitution? Are they second class citizens? Is that what you mean?

"If CAB was about giving citizenship for all persecuted religious minorities then we would have supported it. But this is only for minorities from three specific nations," Khan said.

1:50 PM

Derek O Brien: "On a winter November you separated poor from their money…with GST you separated businessmen from profit…with Abrogation of article 370 you separated Kashmiris from their homes…with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill you are separating people from their nation…the TMC will not allow NRC in not just in Bengal but across the country," Derek O Brien said.

1:40PM

Working president of BJP JP NADDA said, "The nation builders wanted the minorities in both the countries to get protection. But the reality was very different. In Jawahar-Liyaqat Ali Pact it was decided that the minorities would be divided. We know that in 1950 when we framed the constitution we made it secular, but Pakistan made it a theocratic nation."

He said, 'We have documented evidence of how minorities have grown in India but the population of Pakistan's minorities have gone down significantly'.

"Leave your political interest behind, keep your national interest forward… there has been a concerted effort to spread lies in North East about Citizenship (Amendment) Bill…but the Home Minister has made it very clear that people of Northeast will be adequately protected," JP Nadda said.

1:36 PM

Amit Shah says that he is ready to answer all your Questions, "I assure you that no Indian muslim will be affected by this bill…I am ready to answer all your questions…I hope the opposition will stay and listen to me rather than walking out," Amit Shah said.

"Why is there insecurity in Assam? Why are the people protesting? The Home Minister should take a delegation to the detention centre and see the condition. There are reports that detention centers will be setup in NRC when it will be implemented on a nationwide scale…this reminds us of the concentration camps from the previous century," Anand Sharma said.

"This bill is anti-Bengali and anti-Indian…no one should teach a Bengali about patriotism. This bill is unconstitutional..there is no doubt about that…if passed this will go to SC," Derek O Brien said. He added BJP is based on three Js – Jhoot Jhaansa(cheating) Jumla…In the last 5 crore, 2 crore people have lost their job.

NRC did not work in Assam…your pilot project failed…and now you want to introduce this is 27 states," Derek O Brien said.

1:34 PM

TMC seeks to adjourn the discussion on Citizenship Amendment Bill saying that the bill is defective. Rajya Sabha Chairman rejects TMC's motion to adjourn the house.

Amit Shah says that this bill provides hopes for lakhs of people who are living with no permanent residency in India, this bill will provide the persecuted a chance to provide for their families. The persecuted minorities have never got a chance to fend for their lives and rights," he said.

Minorities in countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan have migrated to india…the ones who stayed back have faced persecution or have been converted," Amit Shah said.

Amit Shah: People are accusing us that we are practicing vote bank politics with the introduction of this bill….but I want to point out that we had brought forward this bill before 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The concerns of North East will be addressed.