The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 passed the test of the Parliament after it cleared both the Houses with comfortable majority. While those in favour hailed the passage of the Bill, the Opposition leaders called it a ‘dark day’ in India’s history.
Here is how politicians reacted after 125 MPs in Rajya Sabha voted ‘Aye’ for the Bill on Wednesday, 11 December.
‘Landmark Day For Nation’s Ethos of Compassion and Brotherhood’: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill by Parliament as a "landmark day" for India and its ethos of compassion and brotherhood.
In a tweet, Modi said the Bill will "alleviate sufferings of many who faced persecution for years".
Home Minister Amit Shah, who had tabled the Bill in both Houses of the Parliament, tweeted, “the dreams of crores of deprived and victimised people has come true today.”
‘Dark Day in India’s Constitutional History’: Sonia Gandhi
Severely criticising the passage of the Bill by Parliament, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said it marks a "dark day" in the constitutional history of India and is a "victory of narrow minded and bigoted forces" over the country's pluralism.
"The Bill fundamentally challenges the idea of India that our forefathers fought for and, in its place, creates a disturbed, distorted and divided India where religion will become a determinant of nationhood," she said.
Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda said he was opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill as "it will totally destroy minorities and is unconstitutional".
Talking to PTI over phone, the Janata Dal (Secular) president said the Bill was contrary to the principles of secularism and other rights incorporated in the Constitution.
“You can’t go against secularism and other constitutional principles.”HD Deve Gowda
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