Insta
As Congress Opposes Citizenship Amendment Bill, Here’s When Its Former PM Supported Its Provisions
Swarajya Staff
Dec 05, 2019, 04:33 PM | Updated 04:33 PM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
The Congress party has declared its opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, which is expected to be a boon for Hindu refugees who fled to India after facing Islamic persecution. This bill is expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha soon.
The crux of the bill is to provide Indian citizenship to minority immigrants who have been persecuted in neighbouring Islamic countries.
Incidentally, while the Congress opposes this bill, its former prime minister Manmohan Singh had supported the bill’s key provision.
As per a report by Times of India, in a discussion in Rajya Sabha back in 2003, Singh was seen endorsing the view that India needs to be more liberal in granting citizenship to minority refugees from Bangladesh who have had to seek refuge in India to escape persecution.
“After partition of our country, the minorities in countries like Bangladesh, have faced persecution, and it is our moral obligation that if circumstances force people, these unfortunate people, to seek refuge in our country, our approach in granting citizenship to these unfortunate persons should be more liberal”, said the transcript.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.