Citizenship (Amendment) Bill passed in Lok Sabha

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. The Bill, which has been vehemently objected by several organisations in Assam, passed after a discussion regarding various Clauses of the Bill.

Speaking on the bill, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said it will pave way for the religious minorities- the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to get Indian citizenship. The bill was tabled after it was cleared by a joint parliamentary committee.

"The Bill is not only for Assam or for migrants from a particular country. Assam is dealing with illegal migration for a long time now and Assam's burden is India's burden. We will stand with the people of Assam, and will help the state in whatever way they need," said Rajnath Singh.

The Citizenship Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016 to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Bill amends the Citizenship Act, 1955 to make illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship.