India: 'No Muslims' Citizenship (Amendment) Bill explained

The Lok Sabha (India's lower parliament) a little past midnight on Monday passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill after a reply by Home Minister Amit Shah who said that the "historic legislation will liberate crores of refugees" who had come from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh from adversities they have faced for decades.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed after division with 311 members voting in favour and 80 against. The bill will now go to the Rajya Sabha - the upper house.

What is the Indian Citizenship Act? Made law in 1955, 8 years after India's independence from the British, the Indian Citizenship Act is the basis by which citizenship was extended to Indians from all states. This act is the one where amendment is being proposed.

The clause being amended is the one that defines illegal migrants and their ability to apply for citizenship by naturalisation.

The bill, if passed, would redefine illegal migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan - Muslim-majority states that were once part of undivided India as defined in the Government of India act 1935. The amendment proposes granting the ability to apply for citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Parsis fleeing persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan - even without any documentation i.e. illegal migrants.

However, in a controversial move, the amendment has excluded Muslims entirely in this category. Modi's party has said that Muslims are not included because they are able to take refuge in Islamic nations across the globe. The reasoning is that non-Muslim minorities in these nations (Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan) are susceptible to persecution based on religion.

Apart from stoking unease among Muslims, the proposed changes have also provoked anger in north-east India that for decades has seen major influxes of people of different religions - including Hindus. The main worry is that this bill would rock the unique ethnic demographic in the region.

About the North East: In the Lok Sabha debate, Amit Shah said, "Nagaland and Mizoram are protected by Inner Line Permit and it will continue to remain protected. Keeping in mind the feelings of Manipur, we're including them into the Inner Line Permit as well. Meghalaya is protected by the Sixth Schedule, and we're keeping the Sixth schedule of the ambit of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill"

Guwahati: Activists of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) taking part in a torchlight rally during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, in Guwahati, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (PTI Photo)(PTI12_9_2019_000213B)

Gujarat, Dec 09 (ANI): Activists hold placards during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Ahmedabad on Monday. (ANI Photo)

Shah said the bill has not taken away rights of any Muslim and they can apply for citizenship under the relevant rules and due process will be followed.

**EDS: TV GRAB** New Delhi: AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi tears a copy of the Citizenship Amendment Bill while speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. (LSTV/PTI Photo) (PTI12_9_2019_000291B) *** Local Caption ***

Guwahati: Security personnel patrol a street during a strike called by All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, at Fancy Bazaar in Guwahati, Tuesday, Dec.10, 2019. (PTI Photo)(PTI12_10_2019_000031B)

Guwahati: Passengers stranded at a station during a strike called by All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, in Guwahati, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (PTI Photo)(PTI12_10_2019_000028B)