New Delhi: The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan was cleared by cabinet on Wednesday morning. The bill, which had lapsed during the previous term of Lok Sabha, is expected to be taken up in parliament next week. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had on Tuesday told BJP parliamentarians that the bill is top priority, as important as the Article 370 move to end special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill aims at providing Indian citizenship to six communities – Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis.
The bill amends existing laws to grant exemptions to illegal migrants in select categories. The opposition has criticized the bill as contrary to secular principles enshrined in the constitution as it excludes Muslims.
The bill is set to clear Lok Sabha easily but in Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority, the numbers are more challenging. The Congress, Trinamool, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Left and Rashtriya Janata Dal have opposed the bill. But parties like AIADMK may tip the balance when it comes to voting in Rajya Sabha.
