Protests have been in several parts of the country against the bill [Anuwar Hazarika/Reuters]
India’s Parliament has approved a controversial citizenship bill that grants citizenship to minorities facing persecution from three neighbouring countries – but excludes Muslims.
A day after clearing the lower house, the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed on Wednesday by the upper house, with 125 members voting in its favour and 105 against it.
Critics say the legislation undermines the country’s secular constitution by granting citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
It seeks to grant Indian nationality to Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Parsis and Sikhs who fled the three countries before 2015.
“Muslim citizens of this country have no reason to worry,” Amit Shah, federal home minister, said in parliament. “This bill is intended to give citizenship, not take away citizenship.”
Several opposition lawmakers said the bill would be challenged in court.”The bill is an assault on Indian Constitution and democracy. It hurts the soul of India. It fails the morality test,” Anand Sharma of the main opposition Indian National Congress party said.
More to follow…
SOURCE:
News agencies
