The Lok Sabha passes the Citizenship Amendment bill which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-muslim immigrants from Bangaldesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Bill seeks to amend 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.
The Bill provides Indian citizenship to such immigrants after six years of residence in India instead of 12 years currently. Assuring that Assamese identity would be safeguarded, Rajnath Singh said that the bill will apply to the entire country and not just Assam.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that the bill should be sent to the Select Committee of the House.
TMC leader Saugata Roy also echoed similar views. Later, opposing the bill, members of Congress and TMC staged a walkout. CPI(M) member also opposed the bill.
