Citizenship (Amendment) Bill passed in Lok Sabha amid protests by Opposition
India TV NewsThe Citizenship Bill, seeking to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, was passed in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Introducing the bill, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the bill will pave the way for Indian citizenship to the “persecuted religious minorities”---the Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis---from the three countries. Seeking to assuage the concerns in the Northeast, which saw an 11-hour bandh on Tuesday against the legislation, Singh said the proposed law will not be confined to Assam alone. Meanwhile, the home minister said the Union Cabinet has also approved grant of ST status to six communities of Assam namely Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Chutia, Tea Tribes, Moran and Matak.