Citizenship Bill likely in LS on Monday

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 5

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday and taken up for consideration and passage the next day, sources have said.

The Narendra Modi government is in “more than a comfortable position” to ensure its smooth passage not just in the Lower House but also the Upper House, the Rajya Sabha, they said on the controversial Bill that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan if they faced religious persecution.

Even though the Shiv Sena has parted ways, it is supporting the legislation and so is the JD-U from which a whole lot of resistance was witnessed earlier.

So far as the Rajya Sabha is concerned, the government’s confidence flows on the basis of support from “non-UPA, non-NDA” regional parties like the BJD and the YSRCP, which have helped the Treasury Benches through critical moments in the last Lok Sabha.

In fact, BJP leaders are claiming support of more than 125 members in the Rajya Sabha, where the present strength is 238. The JD-U, which led a campaign against the legislation, has also indicated support with party leaders citing the BJP’s “outreach to address concerns and safeguards interests of the people of northeastern states”.

The Bill approved by the Cabinet yesterday has given exemption to the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime areas like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.