New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which provides for grant of Indian citizenship to minorities from neighbouring countries on humanitarian grounds, would be finalized and placed before Parliament only after thorough due consultation with all stakeholders and addressing concerns raised by the people of Assam over its provisions.
Rajnath Singh gave an assurance to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal during a meeting to review administrative and security arrangements related to updating of National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Various sections in Assam opposed the Citizen’s Bill for being discriminatory on grounds of religion. BJP’s ally Asom Gana Parishad complaining that it is violative of the Assam Accord as it seeks to confer citizenship on illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
According to the sources of the Central government, the offer of citizenship is based on “grounds of religious persecution faced by the minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh & Afghanistan” and therefore not applicable to those belonging to majority community in these countries.
Addressing the media after the meeting with the Union Minister, Assam CM Sonwal said there should be no apprehension in the minds of the people of Assam about the Citizenship Amendment Bill. “The home minister has assured that before taking any steps the concerns of the people of Assam will be taken care of,” he said.
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