Parliament: 43 amendments moved by political parties in CAB

Lucknow: Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha today for its final passage to grant citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who faced persecution in their countries.

Gaining a successful passage in Lok Sabha on Monday, the contentious Bill that has provoked widespread protests across the Northeast and several parts of India will now face a crucial test in Rajya Sabha. However, it looks like Amit Shah will have a smooth sail in Rajya Sabha as well as the numbers stack up in favour of NDA.

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On the contrary, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will be introducing the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha that seeks to protect privacy of individuals by protecting their personal data and how the data is used by different entities. Follow live updates on the developments in Parliament:

Muslims are patriots, have no problem with Article 370, Ram Mandir, CAB: Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe

BJP MP Vinay P Sahasrabuddhe said that Indians Muslims had no problem with Article 370, Ram Mandir or CAB as they are patriots, opposition misjudges them, he said.

43 amendments moved by political parties in CAB

A total of 43 amendments moved by political parties in CAB in Rajya Sabha - 13 by TMC, 3 by Congress. Motions also moved to send bill to Select Committee by Left and Congress: Sources

Article 14 permits implementation of CAB: Subramanian Swamy

Senior advocate and BJP MP Subramanian Swamy argued in Rajya Sabha that Article 14 allowed the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Bill as it cannot be read alone. The Article has to be read with numerous judgments connects to it, in which the court has permitted special treatment to some people of a case to case basis, he said.

CAB to be prolonged black night: Kapil Sibal

Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 is historic but not because it was new dawn but a prolonged black night.

Why does our strong govt not destroy Pakistan: Sena MP Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut: This is not the Pakistan assembly. All of us have been voted by our people. If we don't like Pakistan's language then our strong govt should finish Pakistan. We have such powerful people in the Prime Minster's seat, in the Home Ministry, why don't we finish Pakistan. Since you say minorities' rights have been violated in Pakistan, Pakistan should be destroyed.

Why include some religions and exclude others: Chidambaram

Chidambaram slams govt on including some religions and only three countries instead of all neighbouring nations in the Citizenship Bill. He asks, "Why only consider religious persecution? Persecution is done on so many other levels, politically, socially, what about them?"

JDU supports Citizenship Bill

JDU supports Citizenship Bill in Rajya Sabha. RCP Singh alleges, "We are discussing CAB, but parties in the House are raising all sorts of issues such as status of Indian Muslims. This country had three Muslim Presidents and one CJI."

Rajya Sabha briefly stopped broadcast when MPs started heckling Amit Shah

Rajya Sabha TV on Wednesday briefly stopped the telecast of the live proceedings from the Upper House during the presentation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill on the directions of Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. The stoppage happened when Home Minister Amit Shah was heckled by opposition members during the introduction of the Citizenship Bill when he stated that the rights of Assamese people will be protected by the BJP government. Naidu warned the opposition members not to interrupt and said he will name them - a procedure that calls for an MP to withdraw from the proceedings of the House for the day.

Derek O'Brien finds similarities between Nazi Germany and Citizenship Bill

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien: 84 years ago, Nazi Germany passed a law and today what we are doing in the House has an eerie similarity. Beware of the signs of dictatorship.

TMC's Derek O'Brien: Don't try to teach patriotism to Bengalis

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien: Don't try to teach us what being a Bengali means. We are seeing all these people today trying to teach us what being a true Bengali means and what patriotism means. Don't try to teach us nationalism and patriotism. Look at the records of British prisons to see how patriotic Bengalis are. Who are you to teach us?

JP Nadda: Minorities in other nations are majority in India

BJP working president JP Nadda: Minorities in other nations are in majority in India. And minorities in India are majority in the Islamic nations of Pakistan and Bangladesh. India has protected minorities and Pakistan persecuted minorities.

Kiren Rijiju: Entire Northeast protected, govt has addressed concerns

Union minister Kiren Rijiju says, "Entire Northeast has complete protection under Citizenship Bill; we do not want region to fall into trap of some mis-campaigning. Protests are going on in Northeast, there are concerns, but those have been addressed by the government."

Protests rock Assam, students break barricades, teargas lobbed

Protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill continues to rock Assam as a large group of students fought a pitched battle with the police near the state secretariat here on Wednesday. Students in large numbers were seen proceeding towards the Secretariat from all directions. Another group has reached Ganeshguri area, around 500 metres from the centre of power. They broke a barricade on GS Road following which the police resorted to lathi charge. Teargas shells were also lobbed at the students who also threw the shells back at the policemen.

Jitendra Singh: Northeast suffered under Congress rule

Union Minister Jitendra Singh: The extent of neglect that Northeast has suffered over half a century under Congress rule is a testimony in itself. The development that has happened in the last 5 years in the Northeast, is more than what has been seen in the last 65 years.

Anand Sharma: Two-nation theory was Savarkar's idea

Anand Sharma: Amit Shah is insulting freedom fighters by blaming Congress for Partition and causing religious divide. The two-nation theory was an idea of Veer Savarkar. Congress never propagated this theory. History cannot be changed according to the tastes of this government.

Opposition demands Bill be sent to select committee

Several MPs of opposition parties moved a motion to send the Citizenship Amendment Bill to the select committee of Rajya Sabha. The Citizenship Bill and the opposition motion will be put to vote after a debate on it.

Anand Sharma demands the Bill be sent to Parliamentary committee

Anand Sharma demands that the Citizenship Bill be sent to Parliamentary committee.

Govt to send Personal Data Protection Bill to joint select committee

In Lok Sabha, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad says the govt has proposed to send the Personal Data Protection Bill to joint select committee of both Houses.

Congress's Anand Sharma: What was the urgency to get this Bill

Congress MP Anand Sharma: What was the urgency to get this Bill? I am afraid this Bill is an assault on the Constitution. It is an attack on the soul of India. It is against the very Preamble of the Constitution of India. I stand to oppose this Citizenship Bill.

Anand Sharma opens Opposition's argument

Congress MP Anand Sharma opens Opposition's argument on Citizenship Bill. Congress has appointed 6 speakers to discuss the Bill.

Amit Shah ends his remarks, Venkaiah Naidu allots 6 hours for debate

Amit Shah ends his remarks on Citizenship Bill, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu allots 6 hours for debate on the Bill. Rajya Sabha now opens for debate to discuss the Bill. Naidu asks MPs to stick to time frame.

Amit Shah: Modi govt will protect all minorities

Amit Shah: No Muslim in India needs to worry because of the Citizenship Bill. Don't be scared if someone tries to scare you. This is Narendra Modi's Govt working according to the Constitution and minorities will get full protection.

Amit Shah: Will protect identity of Northeast

We want to assure the northeastern states that we will protect the people of those states and their cultural, ethnic identity and social identity. They have nothing to fear.

Amit Shah: Indian Muslims have nothing to fear

Amit Shah: People voted for us after we made our intentions with Citizenship Bill clear in our manifesto. I don't understand what are your concerns. Do you want us to grant citizenship to Muslims from all nations? We cannot run a country like that. But Indian Muslims have nothing to fear.

Amit Shah: Thousands have faced religious persecution

Partition promised religious freedom but it’s a bitter reality that religious minorities didn’t get such a status in Bangladesh because of Mujibur Rehman's religious persecution of minorities.The Citizenship Amendment Bill will be for crores of people people who are facing a lot of persecution. They have been given hope with this Bill.

Amit Shah starts speaking in Rajya Sabha

Amit Shah starts speaking in Rajya Sabha after tabling the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

Citizenship Amendment Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha

Citizenship Amendment Bill tabled in Rajya Sabha. Rajya Sabha Vice Chairperson Venkaiah Naidu opens House for debate.

Nothing in bill for Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus: Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told ANI there's nothing in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill for Tamil Hindus from Sri Lanka. The Sena supported the Bill in the Lok Sabha, but it has indicated that its stand may change in the Upper House of Parliament.

Amit Shah arrives in Parliament

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has arrived in Parliament ahead of the Rajya Sabha debate on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

BJP appoints 10 speakers for CAB debate in Rajya Sabha

BJP working president JP Nadda will be opening the debate in Rajya Sabha. A total of 10 speakers have been appointed from BJP, including Bhupendra Yadav, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe.

Opposition speaking Pakistan's language, says PM Modi

According to sources, PM Modi told BJP MPs in the Parliamentary meet, "Opposition speaking language of Pakistan on Citizenship Bill."

PM Modi: Citizenship Bill will be written in golden letters

Citizenship Bill will be written in golden letters, it will give permanent relief to people who fled religious persecution: PM Modi at BJP meet.

Rahul Gandhi: Citizenship Bill an attempt to ethnically cleans Northeast

Rahul Gandhi again slams Citizenship Bill. Says, "The CAB is a attempt by Modi-Shah Govt to ethnically cleanse the North East. It is a criminal attack on the North East, their way of life and the idea of India. I stand in solidarity with the people of the North East and am at their service."

PM Modi arrives for BJP Parliamentary meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary party meeting at Parliament library.

Kamal Haasan: Why Tamils, Muslims excluded from Bill?

Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan on Tuesday wondered why Sri Lankan Tamils and Muslims were left out of the ambit of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill if it was a "genuinely benevolent" legislation. Kamal Haasan said, "Why are Tamils who are subjected to a methodic genocide and Muslims facing discrimination, be excluded from the bill? If it's a genuinely benevolent bill and not a vote garnering exercise, then why won't this CAB stop to pick up stranded Tamils & troubled Muslims of Sri Lanka?"

BJP Parliamentary meeting begins

Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary party meeting begins at Parliament library.

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Happy with role of villain, says Owaisi as he slams Citizenship Bill

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that the government is bringing Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah alive with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. He had earlier called Amit Shah "Hitler" during the Citizenship Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday. Owaisi said on Tuesday, "What message do you want to give. Muslims were subject to political marginalisation and now you are imposing greater exclusion on them. "If I go with Modi, you will make me Rajinikanth and if I go with Congress, you will make me Amitabh Bachchan. In this political picture, I am happy with the role of a villain," he said, adding that he has no aspirations of becoming a "hero".

Assam CM says don't spread misinformation on Bill

As Assam erupted in protests against the Citizenship Bill on Tuesday, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asked protesters to not spread "misinformation" over the Bill. The state came to a grinding halt due to a daylong strike called by nearly 20 organisations against the contentious Citizenship Bill. "In order to put Assam strongly on the world map, we all must work dedicatedly. Building a robust work culture in the state should be the prime objective of everyone and youths must not be misled to join agitations," Sonowal said.

TDP, YSRCP to support Bill

TDP and YSRCP will be supporting the Citizenship Bill in Rajya Sabha, TRS will oppose.

Northeast erupts in protest, bandh brings Assam to standstill

Large parts of the Northeast on Tuesday came to a standstill on Tuesday with protests by students' unions and Left-democratic organisations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, with choked roads leaving an ailing two-month-old baby dead on way to hospital. Normal life was paralysed in Assam's Brahmaputra Valley during the shutdown on Tuesday that was led by the All Assam Students' Union and the North East Students' Organisation (NESO). Huge processions were taken out in different areas of Guwahati, with protesters raising slogans against the emotive legislation. The protesters also burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Three protesters sustained injuries as they tried to prevent workers of Oil India Ltd (OIL) from entering their offices in Duliajan. AASU leaders on Tuesday evening said they will move the Supreme Court against the controversial bill. In Tripura, agitators participating in a bandh called by the NESO set a market, where shops were owned mostly by non-tribals, on fire in Dhalai district.

Romila Thapar to Amitav Ghosh: 600 historians, scientists oppose Bill

Several academicians, former bureaucrats and judges, writers, artistes and scientists have expressed outrage over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill calling it "divisive" and violative of the Constitution and asked the government to withdraw it. In separate letters and petitions, they asserted that the proposed legislation threatens the federal framework provided by the Constitution and will fundamentally alter the character of the Indian republic if it comes into force. In an open letter, about 600 writers, artists, activists, former bureaucrats, ex-judges asked the government not to betray the Constitution. The signatories include historian Romila Thapar, author Amitav Ghosh, actor Nandita Das, filmmakers Aparna Sen and Anand Patwardhan, activists Yogendra Yadav Teesta Setalvad, Harsh Mander, Aruna Roy and Bezwada Wilson, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah and the country's first CIC Wajahat Habibullah among others.

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