Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in Lok Sabha with 311 votes in favour, after a detailed day-long discussion in the house. Amid protests, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday had introduced the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. "The bill is not against minorities," Mr Shah said adding "they are open to answer each aspect of the bill in the house".
The lower house voted on the introduction of the bill in the house with 293 MPs voting yes, 82 MPs voted no, earlier in the day. Widespread protests have been reported in the Northeast against what many of its residents claim is a move to nullify a decades-old accord aimed at stemming illegal immigration.
Amit Shah also mentioned that Manipur will now be included in the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, "this big issue has now been resolved".
Mr Shah will introduce the bill to amend the six-decade-old Citizenship Act this afternoon, after which it would be taken up for discussion and passage. The legislation seeks to make it easier for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to gain citizenship in the country.
