SC defers hearing of petition challenging Citizenship Bill

THE PETITION SEEKS TO DECLARE THE PASSPORT (ENTRY INTO INDIA) AMENDMENT RULES, AND FOREIGNERS (AMENDMENT) ORDER AS DISCRIMINATORY, ARBITRARY AND ILLEGAL

NEWDELHI/GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court Monday deferred hearing of a petition challenging the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, until Parliament takes a final view on issue.

“Having heard learned counsel for the petitioners, we are of the view that this matter should remain pending and be taken up only after the Citizenship Act Amendment Bill, consideration of which is now stated to be pending before the Rajya Sabha, reaches its finality. The petitioners will be at liberty to mention the matter at the appropriate time,” said a bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

The petition, jointly filed by Assam-based NGO Nagariktwa Aain Songsudhan Birodhi Mancha (Forum Against Citizenship Act Amendment Bill) and three individuals, has sought to declare the Passport (entry into India) Amendment Rules, 2015 and Foreigners (Amendment) Order as “discriminatory, arbitrary and illegal”. The Bill has been cleared by the Lok Sabha and it would now be pressed in the Upper House of Parliament.

The petition branded the government move to differentiate “illegal immigrants” on the basis of their religion and grant them naturalisation as “communally motivated humanitarianism.”

Religion has never before been identified in the citizenship law as the ground for distinguishing between citizens and non-citizens, the petitioners argued.

RAJNATH MEETS ASSAM, MANIPUR CMs

Union home minister Rajnath Singh met the chief ministers of Assam and Manipur over the weekend to address the growing discontent in the north-eastern states over the Citizenship Bill.

“Rajnath Singh assured the delegations that the interests of all north-eastern states, including Manipur and Assam, and their culture and heritage will be fully protected. He will call a meeting of all the chief ministers,” a home ministry statement said. Meanwhile, protests against the controversial legislation were on in Assam. On Monday, Akhil Gogoi, the leader of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, an influential peasant organisation, started a 24-hour fast in Guwahati. Gogoi, along with noted intellectual Hiren Gohain and journalist Manjit Mahanta, were granted bail by the Gauhati high court on Friday after they were slapped with sedition charges for allegedly making “inflammatory statements” at a rally held in Guwahati to protest against the Bill.

The Asom Gana Parishad, BJP’s former ally in the state, also announced that it will soon take to the streets against the Citizenship Bill. AGP had last week pulled out of the BJP-led coalition government in the state.

“We have will launch a statewide agitation starting January 18,” said Atul Bora, president of AGP and a former cabinet minister in Sarbananda Sonowal government.

In another development, the state has decided that a five-member committee led by minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will talk to stakeholders in the wake of the Centre’s decision to grant scheduled tribe (ST) status to six communities — Koch-Rajbongshis, Muttocks, Tai Ahoms, Morans,Chutiyas and Tea tribes.