India’s Anti-Muslims Citizenship Amendment Bill: Foundation of Hindu Rashtra?

India Parliament Lower House passed a controversial citizenship amendment bill 2019, in midnight 9th December. According to which Indian citizenship will be granted to all religious minorities (except for Muslims) of three neighboring countries Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The legislation is applicable to groups who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014.

The bill is passed by getting 311 votes in favor and 80 votes were against the bill. The opponents are of the view that the bill is unconstitutional creating discrimination for Indian Citizenship on the basis of religion. The bill violates the basic human rights and against the secular principles enshrined in the Indian constitution. However, this bill is also against Article 14.

Debate on Bill:

In addition to that, certain Indian leaders strongly opposed the passage of bill. Hence, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi even tears off the bill. Therefore he said “They write secular in common minimum program, and then introduce a bill which is against secularism and Article 14. It is the politics of opportunism,”. More so, he said that this bill is a disgrace for all the sacrifices involved in freedom of the country.

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also opposes the passage of bill. The statement by USCIRF states if both the houses of Parliament accepts the bill, the United States government should consider sanctions against the Home Minister and other principal leadership.

Rahul Gandhi, Member of the Indian National Congress opposed the passage of the bill saying:

However, Prime Minister Imran Khan is against the bill. Also, it is against human rights o0f minorities in the country. Hence PM Khan strongly condemned it and took it to twitter saying:

Furthermore, Dr. Muhammad Faisal, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson is of the view that the legislation is in complete violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Most worthy, the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) is amid concerns from various politicians, human rights organizations and the Muslim communities.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill seeks the amendments in Citizenship Act 1955. Providing Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians fleeing persecution in Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan can be granted citizenship.

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