Lok Sabha has passed Citizenship Amendment Bill after a marathon 12-hour session that grants citizenship to religious minorities who came from neighboring countries Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The bill amends the 1955 citizenship law and offers a path to citizenship for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians who came from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh on grounds of religious persecution with December 31, 2014 as the cut-off. Citizenship Amendment Bill was approved with 311 voting in support and 80 against in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The bill is now all set to hit Rajya Sabha stage.
It is the first time that India has used religion as a legal basis for determining nationality which led to protest throughout the country especially in the North-east of India which borders Bangladesh. The bill was first introduced in 2016 fulfilling 2014 promise made by Narendra Modi. It was withdrawn due to opposition, but later reintroduced.
Congress aversed CAB and says it is against the spirit of freedom struggle and the constitution. BJP countered by stating that division of Country was on the religion basics and government can decide who is refugee or not. Ministry clearly mentioned that Muslims would have included in the bill if they were minorities in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.