New Delhi, Dec 4: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, Cabinet Minister Prakash Javadekar said here.
Addressing a press conference here, Javadekar said the Bill will be soon be tabled in Parliament for discussion.
The Cabinet nod was important for Government and ruling BJP as well because it have been strongly pitching for a nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise before the 2024 Lok Sabha election while the opposition has staunchly opposed both the Bill and the country-wide NRC.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been meeting the various groups and stakeholders from the North East States to take their views and concerns on the proposed amendments in Citizenship Act.
This Bill aims to provide citizenship to those who had been forced to seek shelter in India because of religious persecution or fear of persecution in their home countries, primarily Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
