Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019; 125 votes in favour, 105 against

The Citizenship Amendment Bill will give Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

ANI Photo

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday evening passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2019 with 125 votes in favour of the Bill and 105 against it. Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Bill in the House at noon amid strong protests by opposition and several groups in North East and other parts of the country. 

The Bill that seeks to give Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh was passed with a thumping majority in Lok Sabha on Monday night (December 9) after six hours of intense debate. In Lok Sabha, the Bill was passed with 311 MPs voting in its favour and 80 against.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday slammed the BJP, accusing the party of trying to divide the country on religion lines. Azad, who is also the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said: “There are about 13 like-minded parties in the Rajya Sabha... I have met them and they will all vote against CAB Bill." Azad remarked that the BJP-led government at the Centre was least bothered about addressing concerns around the economy and issue of price rise and is only trying to divide the nation.

There are 240 MPs in the Rajya Sabha as five seats are lying vacant, therefore, the BJP-led government at the Centre needs the support of merely 121 MPs to pass the bill. Since the BJP has 83 Rajya Sabha MPs, it will need the support of 38 more MPs.

In North East, massive protests erupted on Tuesday as various tribal groups and youth organisations joined hands to register their opposition against the Citizenship Amendment Bill. In Tripura, four policemen and some protesters were injured during clashes between the protesters and police. The Tripura government on Monday ordered to suspend Internet and social media services in the entire state for 48 hours. Violent protests were witnessed in Assam too where the protesters clashed with security forces near the Secretariat and Assembly buildings in Guwahati.

Here are the highlights of the day. Thanks for joining Zee News

11 December 2019

21:24 IST

Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad congratulated Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi after the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 was passed in Rajya Sabha. 

Congratulations to Home Minister @amitshah Ji on the historic occasion of passing of Citizenship Amendment Bill by the Parliament. This visionary step by the Govt of PM @narendramodi will offer dignified life to religiously persecuted minorities from India’s neighborhood.

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) December 11, 2019

21:10 IST

Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, ''If any persons are not being allowed to practice their freedom of religion, then according to our Constitution’s Article 25 it is the responsibility of the government to ensure this right for them.''

21:09 IST

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 11 am on Thursday.

20:48 IST

Rajya Sabha passes Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 with 125 votes in favour and 105 against it.

20:44 IST

During the voting, two Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MPs remain absent.

20:16 IST

Shiv Sena walks out before the final voting on Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019

20:10 IST

Move to refer Citizenship Amendment Bill to select panel defeated in Rajya Sabha by 124 no and 99 yes.

20:09 IST

Amendment to select panel for Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 rejected in Rajya Sabha

19:54 IST

Voting on Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 begins in Rajya Sabha

19:39 IST

Lok Sabha passes bill to establish unified authority for International Financial Service Centre (IFSC)

19:35 IST

Amit Shah on CAB, "Congress is trying to promote the propaganda of Pakistan.'' 

19:24 IST

Replying to the opposition on CAB Home Minister Amit Shah, said, ''They are trying to create fear among the Muslims.''  

19:22 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, ''Don't teach me the idea of India. I was born here and I will die here.'' 

19:11 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, ''CAB, Triple-Talaq are not anti-muslim bills.''

19:08 IST

Answering questions on the exclusion of Rohingyas in CAB Amit Shah said, ''It was asked that why were Rohingyas not included in the Bill? Rohingyas don't come to India directly, they go to Bangladesh and then infiltrate into India from there.''

19:05 IST

Home Minister Amit Shah slams Congress in Rajya Sabha, said, ''The entire country knows that the reason behind partition was Jinnah and it was done due to his demand. But all I am asking is why did Congress agree to it? Why was it done on the basis of religion?''

18:59 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, ''During UPA govt, the then Rajasthan govt wrote to then Home Minister P Chidambaram stating outstanding issue of large no. of Pakistan refugees from Hindu and Sikh communities. 13000 people from two religions only were benefited. Whereas, we have included refugees from six religions.''

18:52 IST

TMC leaders raise voice against Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha.

18:48 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, ''I assure this bill will bring no loss to the minorities of India, because it gives citizenship and does not takes away any.''

18:41 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, ''We are helping persecuted minorities. There is no persecution of Muslims in the Islamic nation.'' 

18:38 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, ''If partition had not taken place, then there would have been no need to bring Citizenship Amendment Bill today.'' 

18:34 IST

Answering question on Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha Amit Shah said, ''We have corrected wrongs of the previous government.'' 

18:33 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks in Rajya Sabha, said, '' If this bill was brought 50-years-ago, then the situation had not been so severe today.'' 

17:20 IST

Opposing the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 AAP leader Sanjay Singh said, '' I am opposing this Bill as it is against the Constitution made by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. It is against the Preamble of the Constitution. It is against the India of the dreams of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh.'' 

17:20 IST

Speaking on the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in Rajya Sabha, Vaiko said,'' If this obnoxious, abominable, undemocratic, unreasonable, unpardonable, unjustifiable, unconstitutional Bill is passed today in this Council of State, it will become a black chapter in the annals of this Upper House.''

16:12 IST

I don't understand which history books the Home Minister has read. Two-nation theory is not our theory. It was perpetrated by Savarkar. I request the Home Minister to withdrawn that allegation because we in Congress believe in that one nation, you don't believe in that. Those who have no idea of India cannot protect the idea of India: Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Shah's statement, "CAB wouldn't have been needed if Congress hadn't allowed partition on basis of religion".

15:01 IST

This government is ramming through this Bill to advance its Hindutva agenda. This is a sad day. I am absolutely clear that this law will be struck off: P Chidambaram

14:38 IST

Why did you cherrypick these three countries. Your attempts are pointing to one community. Think of those Muslims who didn't go to Pakistan after partition. I humbly convey to Home Minister against segregating people on the basis of the community," DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said.

14:28 IST

The fear in Assam that some may not remain a citizen of this nation. We agree that that persecuted religious minorities should be protected but no community should be excluded. This bill should be withdrawn,said TRS MP Keshava Rao

14:26 IST

JD(U)'s Ram Chandra Prasad Singh said in the Rajya Sabha that the party supports the Citizenship Amendment Bill. "We have had Presidents and CJIs from minority communities," Singh said.

14:23 IST

If CAB was about giving citizenship for all persecuted religious minorities then we would have supported it. But this is only for minorities from three specific nations: Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan

14:16 IST

I implore to BJD and JDU leaders to take a stand today. You will have to answer your future generations when they ask you which button did you press," said Derek O' Brien. 

14:11 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi aid that it will be written on golden letters. I will tell you where it will be written- on Jinnah's grave: TMC MP Derek O Brien

13:52 IST

Derek O Brien, TMC MP, in Rajya Sabha: I read that PM said this will be written in golden letters. I will tell you where it will be written, it will be written on grave of the father of the nation, but which father of the nation? In Karachi, on Jinnah's grave.

13:11 IST

We have documented evidence of how minorities have grown in India but the population of Pakistan's minorities have gone down significantly:Nadda

13:11 IST

Those minorities who have been persecuted in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan should get citizenship in India. This is the essence of the bill: JP Nadda, BJP working president

12:57 IST

No party's manifesto is above Constitution, said Congress MP Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha 

12:49 IST

Jinnah never brought two-nation theory. It was introduced by Hindu Mahasabha in Gujarat in 1937: Anand Sharma

12:49 IST

The citizenship act has seen amendments since 1955 but the fundamentals of this act has never been tampered with: Anand Sharma

12:47 IST

We have given shelter to people who came over from Pakistan post partition. Two among them have been our PMs, Dr Manmohan Singh and IK Gujral: Anand Sharma

12:40 IST

No government can write new history, says Congress MP Anand Sharma

12:37 IST

Congress MP Anand Sharma demanded that the Citizenship Amendment Bill be sent to Parliamentary committee.

12:36 IST

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

12:35 IST

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: Congress MP Anand Sharma in Rajya Sabha

12:34 IST

Citizenship Amendment Bill is an assualt on foundation of Constitution, says Congress leader Anand Sharma

12:29 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah ends his remarks on Citizenship Bill. Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu allots 6 hours for debate on the Bill.

12:27 IST

"This bill is not anti-Muslims, no Muslim already residing in India will be excluded. But how can we provide citizenship to Muslims who are coming in from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan? How can we function if this is made possible," said Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha.

12:20 IST

Misinformation has been spread that this bill is against Muslims of India. I want to ask the people saying this that how is this bill related to Indian Muslims? They are Indian citizens and will always remain,no discrimination against them: Amit Shah

12:17 IST

Indian muslims will remain unaffected by Citizenship Amendment Bill, says Amit Shah

12:13 IST

People are accusing us that we are practicing vote bank politics with the introduction of this bill....but I want to point out that we had brought forward this bill before 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The concerns of North East will be addressed: Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha

12:10 IST

"There has been an almost 20% decline each in population of religious minorities in both Pakistan and present day Bangladesh. Either they were killed or they fled to India for shelter: Amit Shah

12:07 IST

Citizenship Amendment Bill provides hopes for lakhs of people who are living as refugees in India, says Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha

12:04 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tables Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha.

11:44 IST

Heavy security put in place in Assam as protests against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 continue in Dibrugarh.

Assam: Heavy security put in place as protests against #CitizenshipAmmendmentBill2019 continue in Dibrugarh. pic.twitter.com/rvG2X45sSS

— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019

11:30 IST

Shiv Sena still undecided over supporting CAB in Rajya Sabha, says Sanjay Raut.

11:28 IST

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Parliament.

11:27 IST

Protests erupt in Guwahati against Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 as Home Minister Amit Shah gets ready to table the Bill in Rajya Sabha.

Assam: Protest being held in Guwahati against #CitizenshipAmendmentBill2019. Home Minister Amit Shah to table the Bill in Rajya Sabha today. pic.twitter.com/jCa0aI4wx4

— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019

11:26 IST

Votebank politics should not be played, its not correct. Don't attempt to create a Hindu-Muslim divide again. Also nothing in this bill for Tamil Hindus of Sri Lanka: Sanjay Raut on CAB

11:13 IST

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 12 noon.

11:05 IST

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav holds protest in Patna against Citizenship Amendment Bill and said, “CAB is unconstitutional. It has been clearly written in the Constitution of India that the country cannot be divided on the basis of religion."

Bihar: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav holds protest in Patna against #CitizenshipAmendmentBill & National Register of Citizens (NRC); says, “CAB is unconstitutional. It has been clearly written in the Constitution of India that the country cannot be divided on the basis of religion." pic.twitter.com/WC5HZkg4pt

— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019

10:54 IST

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi after BJP parliamentary party meeting: PM Modi said that Citizenship Amendment Bill will be written in golden letters for people who are persecuted on basis of religion

10:51 IST

Citizenship Amendment Bill will bring relief for persecuted minorities, says PM Modi

10:47 IST

Some political parties are speaking the language of Pakistan on Citizenship Amendment Bill: PM Narendra Modi

10:43 IST

BJP parliamentary meeting ends. The meeting was held ahead of voting in the Rajya Sabha over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

10:20 IST

"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," tweeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

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.https://t.co/XLDNAOzRuZ

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 11, 2019

10:04 IST

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

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary party meeting at Parliament library. (earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/O87Mf1ZS6S

— ANI (@ANI) December 11, 2019

10:01 IST

The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 will be introduced in Rajya Sabha by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at 12 noon on Wednesday (December 11).

10:00 IST

BJP's former ally Shiv Sena supported the bill in the Lok Sabha, but the Sena (3MPs) on Tuesday (December 10) hinted that it may not support the Bill in Rajya Sabha. 

10:00 IST

Among the Opposition leaders who will speak during  Citizenship Amendment Bill debate in Rajya Sabha, are Kapil Sibal from Congress, Derek O'Brien from Trinamool Congress and Ramgopal Yadav from Samajwadi Party.

09:59 IST

The voting is scheduled in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The current strength of Rajya Sabha is 240 MPs and BJP needs 121 votes in favour of the bill to get it passed in Upper House.

09:58 IST

After nearly six-hour debate, the Lok Sabha passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) with a thumping majority on Monday with 311 MPs voting in its favour and 80 against.