Oppn slams govt over controversial bill

We have suggested changes in CAB we want in Rajya Sabha. It is an illusion that only BJP cares for the country

NEW DELHI: The Opposition slammed the government on Tuesday after the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) in the Lok Sabha. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the proposed legislation is an attack on the Constitution and anyone who supports it is attempting to destroy the foundation of the country.

Rahul’s criticism came after CAB was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday with 311 members favouring it and 80 voting against it. The bill will now be tabled in the Rajya Sabha for its nod on Wednesday.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the move “India’s tryst with bigotry and narrow-minded exclusion”.

Meanwhile, barely 24 hours after Shiv Sena’s face in Parliament Sanjay Raut supported CAB, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took a U-turn and said that it is BJP’S illusion that those who disagree on CAB are “deshdrohi” (traitors). He said, “Anyone who disagrees is a ‘deshdrohi’ is their perception. We have suggested changes in CAB we want in Rajya Sabha. It is an illusion that only

UDDHAV THACKERAY, Sena chief

BJP cares for the country.”

He added, “We will not give support to the bill unless things are clear.”

The JD(U) said it did not find anything wrong in CAB, hence, supported it in Lok Sabha. Party MP Kaushalendra Kumar said the bill did not interfere with the lives of Indian Muslims. ANI quoted him as saying, “This bill is for the Hindu, Parsi, Sikh and other refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have come to our country seeking refuge. It has nothing to do with the Indian Muslims.”

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha attacked the JD(U) for supporting CAB. “It is saddening that Nitish Kumar is supporting CAB which is an attempt for the Israelisation of the country. They are trying to convert an ocean, which is India, into a small pond,” he told ANI.