Lok Sabha passes Citizenship (Amendment) Bill amid Oppn outrage

New Delhi, Dec 09: The Lok Sabha passed a Bill, which seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan after facing religious persecution there, a little past midnight on Monday.

After over seven-hour-long debate, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed in the Lok Sabha with 311 members favouring it and 80 votings against it.

Several amendments brought by opposition members, including one by Shiv Sena MP, were defeated either by voice vote or by a division.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed delight over the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, saying the proposed law is in line with India's centuries-old ethos of assimilation and belief in humanitarian values.

According to the proposed legislation, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants and will be given Indian citizenship.

Amid opposition outcry, a little past midnight on Monday The Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha and will now be tabled in the Rajya Sabha for its nod.