Statement by Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi on the unconstitutional Citizenship Amendment Bill. #CABseBharatBachao pic.twitter.com/RS4OxrYsgg
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 11, 2019

Home Minister Amit Shah.
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.
Dark day in Indian history: Sonia Gandhi on Citizenship Bill
Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in Rajya Sabha with 125 Ayes
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".
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
Sena MPs abstain from voting
Shiv Sena lawmakers walk out of Rajya Sabha
Parliament lobby is getting cleared for division of vote
WATCH| Assam continues to burn over Citizenship Bill
'Bill meant to give citizenship, not snatch it away'
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?"
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.
Opposition creates ruckus during Amit Shah's reply in Rajya Sabha
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
Amit Shah rises to reply
Assam turns into tinderbox over Citizenship Bill
Assam: Bus torched by protesters, near Janta Bhawan in Dispur, against #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019 pic.twitter.com/yUAkYPjWtk
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
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'.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad begins his speech
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.
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.
BJD extends support to Citizenship Bill
Prasanna Acharya, BJD on #CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019: Our stand is the same as was in Lok Sabha. We are supporting the bill but we want certain amendments in the bill like including Sri Lanka in it. pic.twitter.com/KXYK6zJJAE
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
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.
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)
BJP's Subramanian Swamy begins his speech
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".
Congress' Assam lawmaker Ripun Bora rises to oppose the Bill
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.
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.
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.
WATCH | Anti-Citizenship Bill intensifies in Assam, scores injured; Army on standby
In conclusion, Sibal says those who have no idea of India, cannot protect the idea of India
You are destroying the future of India: Sibal
'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.
Majority versus morality: Sachin Pilot
Sachin Pilot, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan on #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019: For the first time in independent India, issue of deciding citizenship on basis of religion has come up. I don't think the bill will pass the judicial scrutiny. This is majority versus morality. https://t.co/qEHRHDA17b pic.twitter.com/cSe5I5cg5p
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha raises to oppose the Bill, makes a case for inclusion of atheists
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.
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.
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.
WATCH| Opposition leaders say Bill won't get passed in Rajya Sabha
Sanjay Raut begins his speech; Shiv Sena's vote is crucial in passing the Bill
Half the Parliamentarians seem to be missing from House during the crucial debate
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.
Congress leader P Chidambaram begins his speech
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.
Nominated member Swapan Dasgupta begins his speech, cut short midway
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..
DMK's Tiruchi Siva begins his speech, opposes the Bill
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.
TRS opposes the Bill
SP says government trying to fulfill dream of Jinnah
Javed Ali Khan,Samajwadi Party in Rajya Sabha: Our Govt through this #CitizenshipAmendmentBill and #NRC is trying to fulfill the dream of Jinnah. Remember, in 1949 Sardar Patel had said 'we are laying the foundation of a truly secular democracy in India' pic.twitter.com/BGl3cP139E
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
Samajwadi Party's Javed Ali Khan begins his speech, opposes the Bill
Balasubramoniyan raises concern on Sri Lankan Tamil refugees
AIADMK's SR Balasubramoniyan begins his speech
Uproar in Rajya Sabha
'Bill drawn from Nazi copybook'
Brien draws parallels with Nazi Germany, says elements of Citizenship Bill drawn from Nazi copybook.
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.
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.
Trinamool's Derek O Brien begins his speech in Bengali
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.
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.
Rajya Sabha to skip lunch break
The Upper House is going to skip the lunch break to continue uninterrupted discussion on Citizenship Bill.
JP Nadda begins his speech, thanks PM Modi
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.
Protests erupt across the country against Citizenship Bill
Tamil Nadu: Congress workers hold protest against #CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019, in Chennai. pic.twitter.com/2v8VLSBgXl
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
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".
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.
Congress' Anand Sharma begins his speech, opposes Bill
Chairman allots six hours for debate
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu allotted six hours for the discussion on the Bill.
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.
Will government pass crucial CAB test? Here are the numbers in the RS
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.
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.
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).
Our stand in RS could be different from Lok Sabha if doubts not cleared: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP on #CitizenshipAmendmentBill in Rajya Sabha: We have to clear our doubts on this bill, if we don't get satisfactory answers then our stand could be different from what we took in Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/OOfdwyR2xH
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
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.
Assam: Heavy security put in place as protests against #CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019 continue in Dibrugarh. pic.twitter.com/rvG2X45sSS
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
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.
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)
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)
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."
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)
CAB to be tabled at 12 noon: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi after BJP parliamentary party meeting: The #CitizenshipAmendmentBill will be tabled in Rajya Sabha at 12 pm today, and it will be passed in the house with comfortable majority (file pic) pic.twitter.com/ckHwZoXpAP
— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.