Amit Shah to Move Contentious CAB in Lok Sabha Today

* Be present in Parliament from December 9 to 11: BJP whip to party MPs

* Left to move for two amendments

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is all set to move the controversial Citizenship Amendment Bill on Monday, in the Lok Sabha. The matter is listed in the day’s business for the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, the BJP has issued whip to all its MPs to be present in Parliament from December 9 to 11.

This move comes days after the Union Cabinet last Wednesday approved the Bill. Responding to questions after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar had said the Citizenship Amendment Bill takes care of India’s interests.

“I am confident that when the Bill’s provisions are announced, Assam, Northeast and the entire country will welcome it.”

The Left would move two amendments seeking deletion of reference to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and religions in the Bill and bringing under its ambit refugees from all neighbouring countries, it said on Sunday.

Three north-eastern States — Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram — where the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime is applicable will be out of the purview of the CAB that created a political row in the area in the run-up to the 2019 general election. The ILP is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period.

The politically sensitive Bill, which has already ruffled the feathers of the Opposition, will leave out tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura as well, sources said. These are the tribal areas where autonomous councils and districts were created under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, has already faced cold vibes from opposition with the Congress calling it “unconstitutional”.

Minority outfits too have lashed out against the Bill for leaving out Muslims and also on the ground that it is at odds with the Constitution, which does not differentiate between citizens on the basis of their faith. (IANS)

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