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HIGHLIGHTS| Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill 125-105

After supporting the bill in the Lok Sabha, the Shiv Sena walked out of the Rajya Sabha before the vote.

Published: 11th December 2019 10:49 AM  |   Last Updated: 11th December 2019 08:54 PM   |  A+A-

Home Minister Amit Shah.

By Online Desk

The contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill has been passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, two days after it got the nod from the Lok Sabha. 

125 members voted in favour of the Bill and 105 voted against it. After supporting the bill in the Lok Sabha, the Shiv Sena walked out of the Rajya Sabha before the vote.

Earlier in the day, Home Minister Amit Shah had tabled the bill in the House.

The Bill seeks to give citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

After heated discussions spanning seven hours, the Bill was passed with a majority of 311 votes against 80 in the Lower House where 391 members were present and voted.

08:49 Dec 11

Dark day in Indian history: Sonia Gandhi on Citizenship Bill

08:46 Dec 11

Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in Rajya Sabha with 125 Ayes

08:35 Dec 11

Sena to abstain from voting, confirms Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP, on being asked if they have boycotted the voting said,"yes, Shiv Sena has boycotted the voting".

08:12 Dec 11

Bill won't be sent to House committee

Rajya Sabha rejects motion to send Citizenship Amendment Bill to Select Committee of House; 113 votes against the motion, 92 in support

08:10 Dec 11

Sena MPs abstain from voting

 Shiv Sena lawmakers walk out of Rajya Sabha

07:54 Dec 11

Parliament lobby is getting cleared for division of vote

 

07:30 Dec 11

WATCH| Assam continues to burn over Citizenship Bill

07:19 Dec 11

'Bill meant to give citizenship, not snatch it away'

Hiitng back at Congress' Kapil Sibal, Shah says,"don't teach me the idea of India. We were born in this country and will die here". He adds, "The Bill is meant for providing citizenship, not to snatch it away. I want to appeal to Muslims in this country, don't get distracted by propaganda".
07:11 Dec 11

Amit Shah throws shade at Shiv Sena

Hitting out Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut, Home Minister said, "I am amazed at things people do to get in power". He adds, "Sena supported the Bill in Lok Sabha then what changed over night?"

07:10 Dec 11

Shah slams Opposition, asks Congress why did they accept Jinnah's demand

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? It was asked that why were Rohingyas not included in the Bill? Rohingyas don't come to India directly, they go to Bangladesh and then infiltrate into India from there. 

06:54 Dec 11

Opposition creates ruckus during Amit Shah's reply in Rajya Sabha

 

06:37 Dec 11

Citizenship Bill was necessitated due to the partition: Amit Shah

"The Citizenship Bill was necessitated due to the partition of India. This bill was brought 50 years ago, then the situation had not been so severe today. Narendra Modi government is not just here to govern but to solve the issues of the country," says Amit Shah

06:23 Dec 11

Amit Shah rises to reply

 

06:19 Dec 11

Assam turns into tinderbox over Citizenship Bill

06:14 Dec 11

Assam and northeast states are burning: Azad

Ghulam Nabi Azad opens his speech, says is this problem not being faced by Hindus in Sri Lanka, or with Christians of Bhutan? Aren't Indian origin Muslims in Myanmar facing this problem? Why all these not included?

He adds,  Assam and northeast states are burning. How can you say the country is happy?

He later quotes Faiz Ahmed Faiz's "Hum Dekhenge'.

06:09 Dec 11

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad begins his speech

 

05:21 Dec 11

Stupid attempt to make India a country for one sect: Kamal Haasan

"It's stupid to attempt to make India a country for one sect. Young India will reject such plans soon. It's not primitive India for your old plans. We have a duty to amend the Constitution if there was any error, but to attempt to amend a flawless Constitution is a betrayal. Centre's law and plan is akin to a crime of attempting surgery on a healthy person," said Kamal Haasan.

05:18 Dec 11

Assam CM stranded at Guwahati airport

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was left stranded at the Guwahati airport amid massive protests in the state over the Citizenship Bill.

05:15 Dec 11

BJD extends support to Citizenship Bill

05:09 Dec 11

Sri Lankan Tamils didn't come to India due to religious persecution: Swamy tells Rajya Sabha

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy says that the Opposition is confused between CAB and NRC. "Minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have been oppressed. As far as Ahmadis or Shias are concerned, they would prefer going to Iran. Sri Lankan Tamils didn't come to India due to religious persecution. They came here due to a full-fledged war in the country," he added.

04:59 Dec 11

Northeast simmers in protest, three columns of Army deployed

Three Army columns requisitioned by civil Administration so far in Tripura and Assam. Two columns in Tripura are deployed and the third one in Assam is on standby. (ANI)

04:57 Dec 11

BJP's Subramanian Swamy begins his speech

 

04:56 Dec 11

Bora rakes up protests in Assam, slams BJP for inciting violence

He says,"Assam is burning. Entire Northeast is burning. You (BJP) have already finished Assam and now you want to finish the entire country. In the name of Citizenship Bill, people will be forced to run from pillar to post, they wont get citizenship".

04:51 Dec 11

Congress' Assam lawmaker Ripun Bora rises to oppose the Bill

 

04:38 Dec 11

Ritabrata Banerjee opposes the Bill

Ritabrata Banerjee, Independent member raises to oppose the Citizenship Bill. "The idea of Tagore is under threat today. We must not partition our soul," he said.

04:21 Dec 11

MDMK's Vaiko opposes the Bill

"If this obnoxious, abominable, undemocratic, unreasonable, unpardonable, unjustifiable, unconstitutional Bill is passed today in this Council of State, it will become a black chapter in the annals of this Upper House. The Bill should be thrown in the Bay of Bengal," says Vaiko.

04:10 Dec 11

Future of Rohingyas in Hyderabad uncertain over Citizenship Amendment Bill

As Lok Sabha passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill and Union Home Minister Amit Shah made it clear that Rohingyas would not be granted citizenship, the future of around 6,000 Rohingyas in Hyderabad is uncertain. The Rohingyas, an ethnic minority group from Myanmar, are concentrated mostly in the Balapur camp. Some others are scattered across Chandrayangutta, Salala and Barkas areas. They mostly do odd jobs, and live in unhygienic conditions. Many women are being helped out by local NGOs.

(READ MORE HERE)

04:06 Dec 11

WATCH | Anti-Citizenship Bill intensifies in Assam, scores injured; Army on standby

03:59 Dec 11

In conclusion, Sibal says those who have no idea of India, cannot protect the idea of India

 

03:49 Dec 11

You are destroying the future of India: Sibal

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal rises to oppose the Bill. "I don't know which history book you consult but the two-nation theory was perpetrated by Savarkar and even BR Ambedkar agreed to it. We in Congress believe in one nation.I want Home Minister to withdraw the allegations against us. I request the Home Minister to rise above politics. You are destroying the future of India," says senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal.
03:39 Dec 11

'Kashmir chose secular India over Pakistan'

PDP's Mir Mohammad Fayaz of PDP says Kashmir chose secular India over Pakistan. However, that faith is being shaken. He adds that only Muslims are being targeted in India.

03:34 Dec 11

Majority versus morality: Sachin Pilot

03:21 Dec 11

RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha raises to oppose the Bill, makes a case for inclusion of atheists

 

03:18 Dec 11

President signs order to extend Inner line permit regime extended to Manipur

The inner line permit (ILP) regime was extended to Manipur on Wednesday with President Ram Nath Kovind signing the order in this effect.

The decision comes two days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in Lok Sabha that the ILP would be extended to the northeastern state.

03:17 Dec 11

Bahujan Samaj Party opposes the Bill

Satish Chandra Mishra of BSP says the party is opposing the Citizenship Bill. He says Muslims being excluded is the sole problem of this Bill.

03:13 Dec 11

We are the headmaster of the school you study in: Raut hits out at BJP

Amidst the chants of 'shame, shame' Sanjay Raut begins his speech. We supported the govt when article 370 was revoked. But today, several parts of country have erupted in protest. We don't have to prove our Hindusim. We are the headmaster of the school you study in and the headmaster of our school is Balasaheb Thackeray.

03:10 Dec 11

WATCH| Opposition leaders say Bill won't get passed in Rajya Sabha

03:05 Dec 11

Sanjay Raut begins his speech; Shiv Sena's vote is crucial in passing the Bill

 

02:59 Dec 11

Half the Parliamentarians seem to be missing from House during the crucial debate

 

02:52 Dec 11

Constitution is being wrecked from within: P Chidambaram

This will not stop here but will go to the Supreme Court. This is a slap on the Parliament. Parliamentarians are made to do something unconstitutional. The govt is rushing the Bill to push their Hindutva agenda. Thank god they are not amending the Constitution. Somebody has to take responsibility to answer the questions? 

He rakes questions:

1.How do you group three countries?

2. How do you group six religions and exclude others?

3. Why have you excluded Sri Lankan Hindus and Bhutanese Christians?

4. Why only religious persecution? Are people not persecuted based on ideology?

5. Does or doesn't the Bill violate the three clauses of article 14.

02:45 Dec 11

Congress leader P Chidambaram begins his speech

 

02:44 Dec 11

Birendra Prasad Baishya begins his speech in Assamese

Birendra Prasad Baishya begins his speech in Assamese. Says the citizens of Assam are scared.Assamese language and culture are facing a threat. 

02:34 Dec 11

Nominated member Swapan Dasgupta begins his speech, cut short midway

 

02:31 Dec 11

Why minorities from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka have been excluded from the Bill: Siva

"If Afghanistan has been selected then why other neighbouring countries have not been included? Why minorities from Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka have been excluded from the Bill? They too have a state religion. Why were these countries cherry picked that too based on a religion. A sense of apprehension has come up within millions of Muslims in India," Siva says..

02:25 Dec 11

DMK's Tiruchi Siva begins his speech, opposes the Bill

 

02:24 Dec 11

Keshav Rao says the Bill should be withdrawn

K Keshav Rao of Telangana Rashtra Samithi says, this bill challenges the very idea of India and negates every ideal of justice. This bill should be withdrawn.

02:23 Dec 11

TRS opposes the Bill

 

02:16 Dec 11

SP says government trying to fulfill dream of Jinnah

01:51 Dec 11

Samajwadi Party's Javed Ali Khan begins his speech, opposes the Bill

 

01:50 Dec 11

Balasubramoniyan raises concern on Sri Lankan Tamil refugees

Balasubramoniyan began his speech by raising concerns on the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu. He says, we are concerned about Sri Lankan refugees living for many years in India, but left out from this Bill, they are Hindus, Buddhists, some Muslims also who are entirely left out.
01:41 Dec 11

AIADMK's SR Balasubramoniyan begins his speech

 

01:40 Dec 11

Uproar in Rajya Sabha

 

01:34 Dec 11

'Bill drawn from Nazi copybook'

Brien draws parallels with Nazi Germany, says elements of Citizenship Bill drawn from Nazi copybook.

01:29 Dec 11

Scores of protesting students, others injured in Assam as police use force

The police resorted to lathicharge and fired teargas shells as thousands of students from various colleges of Guwahati were taking out a procession to the State Secretariat in Dispur area.

(READ MORE HERE)

01:21 Dec 11

The Bill is anti-Bengali : Derek O Brien

Trinamool's Derek O Brien begins his speech in Bengali. Says, the Bill is anti-India, anti-Bengali. BJP should not try to portray itself as pro-Bengali. Don't try to teach patriotism or citizenship to Bengalis. The nation is moving towards dictatorship.

01:17 Dec 11

Trinamool's Derek O Brien begins his speech in Bengali

 

01:15 Dec 11

Nadda concludes his speech, says bill doesn't tamper with Article 14

Nadda concludes his speech, says the Bill does not tamper with Article 14 of the Constitution or the right to equality. This Bill is not in interest of any party, it is in the interest of the nation.

01:04 Dec 11

Minorities in India were protected post partition: JP Nadda

Jagat Prakash Nadda opens his speech, says minorities in India were protected after partition, but the same did not happen in Pakistan.

01:01 Dec 11

Rajya Sabha to skip lunch break

The Upper House is going to skip the lunch break to continue uninterrupted discussion on Citizenship Bill.

12:56 Dec 11

JP Nadda begins his speech, thanks PM Modi

 

12:54 Dec 11

Sharma concludes his speech, rakes up Assam's protest over NRC

What does Assam feel about NRC? Assam is burning. If you are going good for the nation then why are people of Assam insecure? The country is ashamed of how the people are treated in the detention camps. Am all-party delegation should visit the camps. Are the detention centers going to become concentration camps?, asks Anand Sharma.

12:48 Dec 11

Protests erupt across the country against Citizenship Bill

12:41 Dec 11

Savarkar proposed the two-nation theory first: Anand Sharma

Sharma continues, "The Home Minister had falsely claimed that Congress partitioned India on religious grounds. It was Hindu Mahasabha under Savarkar who proposed two-nation theory, and then Muslim League picked it up".

12:33 Dec 11

Bill against the preamble of Constitution: Anand Sharma

Congress' Anand Sharma opens the debate on the controversial Bill. Says, the bill that was proposed in 2016 and the one tabled now have huge differences. He adds that the Bill is against the preamble of the Constitution.

12:31 Dec 11

Congress' Anand Sharma begins his speech, opposes Bill

 

12:29 Dec 11

Chairman allots six hours for debate

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu allotted six hours for the discussion on the Bill. 

12:28 Dec 11

Amit Shah concludes his opening speech

Shah concludes his speech, says non-Muslim minorities from three nations who came to India after Independence will be given Indian citizenship. Those who arrived before Dec 31, 2014 will not face legal action, any on going case against them to be scrapped. Provisions of bill will not be applicable to tribal areas of northeast.

12:25 Dec 11

Will government pass crucial CAB test? Here are the numbers in the RS

 

12:16 Dec 11

Muslims in the country should not feel afraid: Shah

 

The citizen Muslims of India will remain untouched. Do you want us to give citizenship to Muslims from across the world? If so then how will the country survive, reiterates Amit Shah.

12:10 Dec 11

Amit Shah tables Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha

 Home Minister Amit Shah has tabled the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the Rajya Sabha.

11:52 Dec 11

What makes the bill contentious?

Those who oppose the bill say that it discriminates on the basis of religion and is, therefore, against the secular ethos of the Indian Constitution.

Some Constitutional experts cautioned that the bill violates Article 14 of the Constitution that guarantees equality to all before the law.

The north-eastern states are against the Bill as they believe it will lead to a greater influx of illegal migrants.

Seeing the opposition to the Bill in the region, the BJP-led government has decided to exempt parts of the region which are under the sixth schedule of the Constitution – which deals with autonomous tribal-dominated regions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

The bill will also not apply to states that have the inner-line permit regime (Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram).

 

11:49 Dec 11

Our stand in RS could be different from Lok Sabha if doubts not cleared: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut

 

11:46 Dec 11

Fresh anti-CAB protests erupt in Assam

A day after total shutdown in Assam to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, fresh protests erupted in the state on Wednesday when the legislation would be debated in the Rajya Sabha. To tackle the situation, the police had to fire rubber bullets and resort to lathi charge on the protestors in Dibrugarh district, police said.

A journalist was injured in stone pelting by a mob and the police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse them near a polytechnic institute in Dibrugarh town, police said.

Though no organisation has called for a bandh on Wednesday, people have come out in large numbers in Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Bongaigaon, Nagaon, Sonitpur and several other districts since morning.

11:44 Dec 11

Govt will get Bill passed with comfortable majority: Naqvi

While reacting on whether the BJP has support of Shiv Sena and JD(U), Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: "Government will get the bill passed with comfortable majority." Sources had earlier said that the Shiv Sena will walk out of the Rajya Sabha.

11:39 Dec 11

Express debate | Bill will not pass the legal test, says KTS Tulsi

The Citizenship Amendment Bill clearly violates Article 14 of the Indian Constitution as it guarantees equality not only to its citizens but also for the non-citizens. Then there are two facets of Article 14: one is it prohibits positive discrimination on the ground of religion and the second is that it provides equal protection to all before the law.

If this Bill, which proposes to provide protection to certain people who are mentioned in the Bill on the ground of religious persecution, then it has to also grant protection to those who have been left out. There is completely irrational discrimination. (Read More)

11:37 Dec 11

Express debate | CAB in no way violates Article 14, says GVL Narasimha Rao

Religious minority communities in Pakistan bore the brunt of Partition. India embraced Muslims whole-heartedly even while Partition of the country was done on the grounds of religion while Pakistan adopted Islam as its state religion. While India protected the rights of the minority communities, Pakistan patronised their persecution, reflecting in the near wipeout of the population of Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Jain, Buddhist and Christians.

Article 14 of the Constitution of India guarantees equality to all citizens. India, since Independence, has demonstrated that the citizens enjoyed unhindered the right to equality in all walks of life. The Constitution at the same time empowers the executive to frame policies for affirmative action for sections of the citizens who have faced discrimination over a long period of time leading to their socially disadvantaged status. (Read More)

11:14 Dec 11

Opposition speaking same language as Pakistan: PM

According to sources, PM Modi told BJP MPs in the Parliamentary meet, "Opposition speaking language of Pakistan on Citizenship Bill."

11:10 Dec 11

BJP Parliamentary Panel meets ahead of crucial Rajya Sabha debate over CAB

 

PM Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister Harshvardhan, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others during the BJP parliamentary party meeting at Parliament House in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo | EPS/Shekhar Yadav)

11:03 Dec 11

CAB to be tabled at 12 noon: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi

11:02 Dec 11

All you need to know about Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

  • The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955 in order to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan (all Muslim-majority nations) escaping religious persecution there.
  • Once the bill is enacted, immigrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi communities from the three countries will not be treated as illegal.
  • They will also be eligible to get naturalised citizenship.
  • One of the requirements for citizenship by naturalization is that the applicant must have resided in India during the last 12 months, and for 11 of the previous 14 years.
  • The Bill relaxes this 11-year requirement to six years for persons belonging to the same six religions and three countries.
  • They will also be no longer deported or jailed under the Foreigners Act of 1946 and the Passport (Entry into India) Act of 1920.
  • December 31, 2014 will be the cut-off date after which any person moving to India from these neighbouring countries will be considered for citizenship.
  • However, the new law will not apply to parts of the north-east, where the Bill has been met by protests.
  • The Bill provides that the registration of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders may be cancelled if they violate any law.
10:57 Dec 11

Rahul Gandhi: Citizenship Bill an attempt to 'ethnically cleanse' Northeast

Rahul Gandhi again slams Citizenship Bill saying, "The CAB is a attempt by Modi-Shah Govt 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."

10:55 Dec 11

Citizenship Bill will give permanent relief to people who fled religious persecution: Modi

Citizenship Bill will be written in golden letters, will give permanent relief to people who fled religious persecution, says PM Modi at BJP meet.

10:53 Dec 11

Kapil Sibal, Derek O'Brien, Ramgopal Yadav to speak on Citizenship Amendment Bill

 Congress' Kapil Sibal, Derek O'Brien of Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Ramgopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party (SP) are among the opposition leaders who will speak during the debate on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

10:53 Dec 11

Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha gives adjourment motion notice

Congress chief whip in Lok Sabha Kodikunnil Suresh has given adjourment motion notice on 'unrest and strife in the country over Citizenship Amendment Bill.

 

10:51 Dec 11

Bill to be tabled at 12 noon

No question hour on Wednesday in Rajya Sabha, Citizenship Amendment Bill debate to begin at 12 noon, according to reports.


Comments(1)

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  • Shubham

    It is really an impeccable decision.
    3 years ago reply
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