Controversial CAB all set to get LS nod

NEW DELHI: Asserting that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has endorsement of India’s 130 crore nationals, Home minister Amit Shah on Monday introduced the controversial Bill in Lok Sabha after a heated debate followed by division of votes, forced by Opposition members who dubbed it as “unconstitutional”.

Opposition leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Saugata Roy, N K Premchandran, Gaurav Gogoi, Shashi Tharoor and Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the introduction of the Bill, which seeks to give citizenship to non-muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there, saying it was violative of various provisions of the Constitution, including move to grant citizenship on the basis of religion.

While defending the introduction of the Bill, Shah said the Congress had “divided” the country on the basis of religion that is why it was necessary to bring the Bill and added that it was brought on the basis of reasonable classifications provided under the Constitution.

Rejecting suggestions that the Bill is anti-muslim, Shah said the measure has the endorsement of 130 crore citizens of the country as it was the part of the BJP manifesto in 2014 as well as 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“We will have to differentiate between intruders and refugees. Citizenship Amendment Bill does not discriminate against anyone and does not snatch anyone’s rights,” Shah said while initiating the debate on the contentious Bill.

During the debate, which was marked by heated arguments, Owaisi also tore a copy of the Bill, saying it was aimed at making Muslims “stateless” and will lead to another partition.

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said his party’s idea of India was “inclusive” unlike the ruling party’s idea of a “divisive” nation.

“Our India smiles. Your idea of India is based on mob lynching. Let me tell you whatever may happen there wouldn’t be any NRC in West Bengal.”

He added that there is a noxious motive of gaining political mileage by the current incumbents.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday said if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed by Parliament, it will be a victory of the thoughts of Muhammad Ali Jinnah over Mahatma Gandhi. Tharoor added that it “violates” the fundamental right to equality.

Congress MP Manish Tewari said the Bill is “unconstitutional” and “contrary to the spirit of the Constitution which is secular”.

“Equals cannot be treated as unequal. When a person comes to India, he is a refugee. You cannot discriminate against him on the basis of religion,” he said during the debate.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, said the government was trying to create an impression that by opposing the legislation, the party was anti-hindu.

Supriya Sule (NCP) said the perception is that every Muslim is feeling insecure and the largest minority community should not feel left out.

Referring to DMK MP K Kanimozhi, she said: “What happens to those who practise atheism?” She also asked why Myanmar and Sri Lanka were not included in the list of countries along with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Sule claimed the Bill will not pass judicial scrutiny.

Nama Nageshwar Rao (TRS) said his party was opposed to the proposed law as it does not include Muslims.

DMK member Dayanidhi Maran claimed: “Probably the fear of the West, the fear of being isolated by West has creeped into you and you had to include Christians in this bill. Also what about if Muslims from POK want to come? What law do you have for that?”

The BJP’S former ally Shiv Sena said that people who get Indian citizenship under the proposed law should not be granted voting rights for 25 years. Sena’s Vinayak Raut also said there is no clarity yet on how and in which state these people would be rehabilitated.

He was of the view that besides Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, refugees from Sri Lanka should also be allowed to get Indian citizenship.