Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 was passed in Rajya Sabha today.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 will be tabled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha, two days after it was passed in Lok Sabha following a 12-hour long debate.
Unlike Lok Sabha, the BJP does not have the majority in Rajya Sabha, therefore it will be a tough task for the BJP, however, the Modi-led government is confident of passing the bill in the Upper House.
Home Minister Amit Shah introduced CAB today.
The opposition is of the opinion that the Citizenship Amendment Bill is against minorities and unconstitutional. However, Amit Shah has repeatedly said that the bill is not a political move by the government and is not even 0.001% against the minorities.
Parliament live |
20:48 IST | December 11, 2019
20:10 IST | December 11, 2019
Amendment to select 124 members panel rejected in Rajya Sabha.
20:00 IST | December 11, 2019
Amendment to send the Bill to select panel defeated. 113 votes against sending the bill, 92 in favour.
19:40 IST | December 11, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah: 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.
19:30 IST | December 11, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah: Pak PM's comment and Congress's comment- both are alike. Why are you (Congress) rattled?.... I want to ask why did Congress oppose the Enemy Property Bill.
19:25 IST | December 11, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah: Do only Muslims live in Jammu & Kashmir? No Hindus? No Buddhists? Why is it viewed like that? It has been abrogated for everyone & not only Muslims. How can CAB be anti-Muslim? In this Bill, there is no proposal to touch the citizenship of any Muslim.
19:22 IST | December 11, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah: Neither CAB is anti-Muslim, nor abrogation of Article 370 is anti-Muslim, Triple Talaq Bill is not anti-Muslim either. Triple Talaq is the Bill to give rights to crores of Muslim women in the country.
19:18 IST | December 11, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah: Don't teach me the idea of India. Hum toh isi desh mein janme hain isi desh mein marenge (We are born in this country and will die here)
19:16 IST | December 11, 2019
HM Amit Shah: Kapil Sibal Ji said "Muslim aapse nahi darte". Unhe bhi nahi darna chahiye. Aur aap daraiye bhi mat. Bharat ke musalman ki nagrikta koi cheen nahi raha hai. Yeh nagrikta dene ka Bill hai, nagrikta lene ka nahi.
19:10 IST | December 11, 2019
Shiv Sena supported the Bill yesterday. They should tell the people of Maharashtra as to what happened within the span of a night that they changed their stand today.
19:02 IST | December 11, 2019
Amit Shah: The entire country knows that the reason behind partition was Jinnah and it was done due to his demand. But all I am asking is why did Congress agree to it? Why was it done on the basis of religion?
19:01 IST | December 11, 2019
Amit Shah: This Bill does not hurt the Article 14 of the Constitution.
18:55 IST | December 11, 2019
Union Home Minister Amit Shah: But, no one will say anything because whatever the Congress does is secularism. Till when will you fool people? https://t.co/hZpqVzpVew pic.twitter.com/ONZYDSdn0s
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
18:54 IST | December 11, 2019
HM Shah: 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.
18:53 IST | December 11, 2019
Amit Shah: The spirit of Liaquat–Nehru Pact, was not followed by the neighbouring country. It is the duty of every government to follow it in letter and spirit.
18:49 IST | December 11, 2019
Amit Shah: This Bill will not harm the minority communities including Muslims.
HM Amit Shah on #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 : This Bill will not harm the minority communities including Muslims. pic.twitter.com/oaq9O5FxW7
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
18:45 IST | December 11, 2019
Amit Shah: Can followers of Islam in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan be called minority? No. When the religion of the State is Islam, then, chances of persecution of Muslims is lesser.
18:44 IST | December 11, 2019
Amit Shah: There is no appreciation of the fact people from 6 religions have been included. But, the focus is only on why Muslims are not included.
18:25 IST | December 11, 2019
Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: If partition had not taken place, then there would have been no need to bring #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 today.
18:14 IST | December 11, 2019
Union Minister of Law & Justice, Ravi Shankar Prasad in Rajya Sabha: All bills of our govt are brought in the House only after they are vetted by the Law & Legislative Department.
17:58 IST | December 11, 2019
"Our country is governed by the Constitution and the Constitution is based on the principle of equality. We expect that Shiv Sena will keep this in mind while voting for Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha," Maharashtra Cabinet minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said.
17:24 IST | December 11, 2019
"This Bill will be a dilution of our secularism policy in this country. I strongly oppose this Bill. I recommend that the Bill be sent to a select committee of Parliament for scrutiny," said D Kupendra Reddy of the JD(S).
16:19 IST | December 11, 2019
"CAB wouldn't have been needed if Congress hadn't allowed partition on the basis of religion. I don't understand which history books the Home Minister has read. The two-nation theory is not our theory. It was perpetrated by Savarkar. I request the Home Minister to withdraw that allegation because we in Congress believe in that one nation, you don't believe in that. Those who have no idea of India cannot protect the idea of India," said Kapil Sibal, Congress.
15:30 IST | December 11, 2019
"Our party opposes the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019. Why are you violating Article 14 by excluding Muslims? Muslims being excluded is the sole problem of this entire act," Satish Chandra Mishra, BSP said.
15:15 IST | December 11, 2019
"I have been hearing since yesterday that those who do not support this Bill are anti-national and those who support it are nationalist. We have a lot of expectations from a strong Prime Minister and Home Minister. Will immigrants will be evacuated after this Bill is passed? If the country accepts minorities... Will they be given voting rights?"
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena: We don't need any certificate on our nationalism or Hindutva. Jis school mein aap padhte ho, hum us school ke head master hain. Hamare school ke headmaster Balasaheb Thackeray the, Atal ji, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee bhi the, hum sabko mante hain. pic.twitter.com/xoQHwJ9rQT
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
15:00 IST | December 11, 2019
This government is ramming through this Bill to advance its Hindutva agenda. This is a sad day. I am absolutely clear that this law will be struck off," P Chidambaram said.
P Chidambaram, Congress in Rajya Sabha: This government is ramming through this Bill to advance its Hindutva agenda. This is a sad day. I am absolutely clear that this law will be struck off. #CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019 pic.twitter.com/5EBQPBw9bF
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
14:31 IST | December 11, 2019
"Suppose you make the law, who will be responsible for any repercussion on minorities? That is why my party oppose this. Don't spoil the country, don't spoil the constitution, that's my request," said TK Rangarajan, CPI(M) on Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019
14:20 IST | December 11, 2019
"We have certain concerns but overall, we are supporting this bill," SR Balasubramaniam of the AIADMK.
14:10 IST | December 11, 2019
"This bill challenges the very idea of India and negates every ideal of justice. This bill should be withdrawn," said Dr K Keshav Rao of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
Dr. K Keshav Rao,Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Rajya Sabha: This bill challenges the very idea of India and negates every ideal of justice. This bill should be withdrawn #CitizenshipAmendmentBill pic.twitter.com/gYMwtN9WDb
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
13:40 IST | December 11, 2019
"I read that PM said this will be written in golden letters. I will tell you where it will be written, it will be written on grave of the father of the nation, but which father of the nation? In Karachi, on Jinnah's grave," Derek O Brien of the TMC said in Rajya Sabha.
Derek O Brien,TMC in Rajya Sabha: I read that PM said this will be written in golden letters.I will tell you where it will be written,it will be written on grave of the father of the nation, but which father of the nation? In Karachi, on Jinnah's grave. #CitizenshipAmendmentBill pic.twitter.com/tIKL8pIuP4
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
13:15 IST | December 11, 2019
"In 2003, Dr Manmohan Singh in Rajya Sabha said to then Deputy PM Advani on the treatment of refugees & persecution of minorities in countries like Bangladesh, he said we should have more liberal approach in granting citizenship to them. So, we are following what he said," BJP Working President JP Nadda said.
12:59 IST | December 11, 2019
"In our religion, we believe in rebirth, and that we meet our elders. So if Sardar Patel meets Modi ji then he will be very angry with him, Gandhi Ji will, of course, be sad, but Patel will be indeed very angry," said Anand Sharma of the Congress.
Anand Sharma,Congress in Rajya Sabha: In our religion, we believe in rebirth,and that we meet our elders. So if Sardar Patel meets Modi ji then he will be very angry with him, Gandhi ji will ofcourse be sad, but Patel will be indeed very angry. #CitizenshipAmendmentBill pic.twitter.com/cTcnyynaet
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
12:58 IST | December 11, 2019
"Home Minister has discussed and listened to the voice of the people of the northeast. The concerns of the indigenous people of the north-east region are being addressed thoroughly," Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).
12:48 IST | December 11, 2019
"The bill that you have brought is an assault on the very foundation of the Indian constitution, it is an assault on the Republic of India. It hurts the soul of India. It is against our constitution&democracy. It fails the morality test," Congress' Anand Sharma said.
Anand Sharma,Congress in Rajya Sabha: The bill that you have brought is an assault on the very foundation of the Indian constitution, it is an assault on the Republic of India. It hurts the soul of India. It is against our constitution&democracy. It fails the morality test pic.twitter.com/dCMVAea9rr
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
12:43 IST | December 11, 2019
"The extent of neglect that the northeast has suffered over half a century under Congress rule is a testimony in itself. The development that has happened in the last 5 years in the northeast, is more than what has been seen in the last 65 years," Union Minister Jitendra Singh said.
12:41 IST | December 11, 2019
"In 1985, Assam accord happened. There is a provision in clause 6 to protect the indigenous culture of the state. I want to assure that NDA government through committee to supervise clause 6 will protect rights of Assam. All Assam Students' Union is part of the committee," Home Minister Amit Shah.
HM Amit Shah: In 1985, Assam accord happened. There is a provision in clause 6 to protect indigenous culture of the state. I want to assure that NDA Government through committee to supervise clause 6 will protect rights of Assam. All Assam Students' Union is part of committee pic.twitter.com/MTgmcCws5q
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
12:28 IST | December 11, 2019
"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 according to the constitution, minorities will get full protection. Misinformation has been spread that this bill is against Muslims of India. I want to ask the people saying this how is this bill related to Indian Muslims? They are Indian citizens and will always remain, no discrimination against them," Amit Shah said.
HM Amit Shah: Misinformation has been spread that this bill is against Muslims of India. I want to ask the people saying this that how is this bill related to Indian Muslims? They are Indian citizens and will always remain,no discrimination against them. pic.twitter.com/4W3csp1AsX
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
12:20 IST | December 11, 2019
"There has been an almost 20% decline each in the population of religious minorities in both Pakistan and present-day Bangladesh. Either they were killed or they fled to India for shelter," Amit Shah said.
12:05 IST | December 11, 2019
Home Minister Amit Shah speaking in Rajya Sabha on Citizenship Amendment Bill.
#WATCH Home Minister Amit Shah speaking on #CitizenshipAmendmentBill in Rajya Sabha. https://t.co/Pj0UjFjZlG
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
11:38 IST | December 11, 2019
Heavy security put in place as protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 continue in Dibrugarh.
Assam: Heavy security put in place as protests against #CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019 continue in Dibrugarh. pic.twitter.com/rvG2X45sSS
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
10:42 IST | December 11, 2019
"PM Modi has said that the Citizenship Amendment Bill is a historic bill," said Prahlad Joshi after parliamentary party meeting.
10:38 IST | December 11, 2019
"The Citizenship Amendment Bill will be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 12 pm today, and it will be passed in the house with a comfortable majority," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said after BJP's parliamentary party meeting.
10:28 IST | December 11, 2019
"The CAB is an attempt by Modi-Shah government to ethnically cleanse the North-East. It is a criminal attack on the North East, their way of life and the idea of India. I stand in solidarity with the people of the North-East and am at their service," Rahul Gandhi wrote on Twitter.
10:27 IST | December 11, 2019
Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh has given adjournment motion notice on 'unrest and strife in the country over Citizenship Amendment Bill'.
Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh has given adjourment motion notice on 'unrest and strife in the country over #CitizenshipAmendmentBill' (file pic) pic.twitter.com/5s6sqHPKhI
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
10:24 IST | December 11, 2019
BJP Parliamentary party meeting is underway at Parliament library.
Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary party meeting underway at Parliament library. #WinterSession pic.twitter.com/Xvi5WXsyHr
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
1. A look at how numbers will matter for the govt to pass the CAB in Rajya Sabha
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The controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on today.
According to reports, the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament, is set to begin its discussion on the bill from 12 PM onwards. The question which is plaguing everyone now concerns whether the central government will be able to pass the much-debated bill in the Rajya Sabha as they did in the Lok Sabha.
Take a look at parties number tally in Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha has a maximum membership of 245, however, it currently has a strength of 240 MPs as five seats are lying vacant. Therefore, the Citizenship Amendment Bill can be passed in the upper house only after the support of at least 121 MPs. The BJP currently has 83 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, i.e., the BJP will need 38 other MPs to pass the bill.
It is being assumed that getting this support will not be a major problem for the BJP since its allies, along with a few other parties, are backing the government on the Citizenship Amendment Bill — AIADMK (11), JDU (6), SAD (3), Independent and Others (13) in the Rajya Sabha. In this way, support from 116 MPs is more or less confirmed for the BJP.
However, it still needs at least five other MPs to come along on this one. The parties and their MPs who can potentially vote in favour of the government in the Rajya Sabha are — BJD (7), YSRCP (2), and TDP (2). Therefore, if this number comes to fruition, the government can succeed in getting the Citizenship Amendment Bill passed with as many as 127 MPs in total, who are in favour.
2. 'Citizenship Amendment Bill not related to NRC': Amit Shah
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Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on Monday said that there is no connection between the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), adding that he will explain the NRC in the same way he had done the CAB in the Parliament. He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government is committed to implementing the NRC across the country.
"There is no need to connect the Citizenship Amendment Bill with the National Register of Citizens. I will explain it the same way in the Parliament as the CAB. Rest assured, the NRC will be brought in soon," said Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha.
The CAB was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday midnight with a 311-80 vote share. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asserted that the Bill will allow refugees from minorities communities like the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Christian, and Parsi coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan to be eligible for Indian citizenship. The move aims at providing protection to minority refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, relaxing the requirement of stay from 11 to 6 years.
