After Day-Long Discussion, Lok Sabha Passes Citizenship Amendment Bill With 311 Votes

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday introduced the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. The development comes after the Union Cabinet approved the draft law that seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan if they faced religious persecution there. Slammed by the Opposition as divisive and communal, the bill is a key part of the BJP’s ideological project as it proposes citizenship to non-Muslim, mostly Hindus, refugees living in India and will protect them from the nation-wide NRC drive the central government is planning to identify illegal immigrants. Here are LIVE UPDATES from Parliament as Modi Govt introduces the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha: