5 Bills which marked Amit Shah's first year as Union Home Minister

As year 2019 comes to an end, it marks end of Amit Shah's first year as Union Home Minister. 55-year old Shah, who has been PM Narendra Modi's political ally since 1982, was sworn-in as India's youngest full-time serving Home Minister in June 2019. After winning his debut Lok Sabha election from Gandhinagar in record-breaking victory margin, Shah's pilot year as Home Minister saw pass of many contentious and significant bills, here are top five.

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019

most contentious bill of Winter session saw one of most heated debates in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Introduced by Shah, Lok Sabha passed it 311-80 votes and  Rajya Sabha passed it 125-105 votes on December 11. Act amends previous Citizenship Act 1955 to make refugees who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship.  Moreover, Bill exempts exempt inner line permit areas in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and areas falling under Sixth Schedule in region and will be applicable to members of se communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014.

During pass of bill, Amit Shah said,"Muslims have thing to fear. This bill gives citizenship to those refugees who took refuge (in India) but were barred from availing basic facilities like homes, jobs, healthcare and education". He also claimed that Muslims were t persecuted in Muslim-majority nations like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, which led to a great uproar in Assembly. Protests against Act which are still ongoing throughout country have led to 23 deaths as of date.

PM Narendra Modi wishes Home Minister Amit Shah on his 55th birthday

Revoking Article 370 and Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Bill, 2019

most significant bill of this year, which changed India's rrnmost state - bifurcating it into two Union territories - Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, was introduced by Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha. With a signed order from President Ram Nath Kovind, Shah declared that under clause (1) of Article 370 - Article 370 & Article 35A had been revoked. articles which exempt Jammu and Kashmir from following Indian Constitution except for Article 1 and itself and defines permanent residents of state of Jammu and Kashmir by giving special rights and privileges to state subjects, were thus abolished.

Shah who n introduced Jammu & Kashmir reorganisation Bill passed it in Rajya Sabha by 125-61 margin and Lok Sabha by a whooping 351-72 margin on August 5,6 respectively. While Opposition condemned this move calling it an attack on 'Kashmiriyat', Shah said, "This historic move will correct a wrong. Article 370 has t allowed integration of Jammu and Kashmir with country".

Prior to this revocation, Centre had deployed thousands of additional troops into Valley, evacuated tourists on Amarnath yatra, detained major Kashmir leaders for security purposes. While several mir political leaders have been released from detention, prominent mainstream leaders - Mehbooa Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Sajid Lone, Farooq Abdullah etc remained detained in Jammu and Kashmir till a date which Centre claims will be decided by local administration. Since revocation of Article 370 and bifurcation of State into two Union Territories, Valley continues to be under lockdown.

Historic: Lok Sabha passes resolution revoking Article 370 in J&K, Reorganisation bill with stunning majority

Unlawful Activities Prevention Amendment (UAPA) Bill 2019

Cracking down heavily on terror, this bill introduced by Shah was passed by Lok Sabha  in 287-8 votes and Rajya Sabha by 147-42 votes on August 2 after a fiery debate on floor of parliamentary house. This bill - an extension of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 amends Act providing special procedures to counter terrorist activities, giving National Investigation ncy (NIA) in particular additional powers while dealing with terrorism cases. Furrmore, it allows government to designate an individiual as 'terrorist', allows NIA to conduct investigations, approve seizure of property and includes or treties in previous Act.

Hitting out at Congress, Home Minister said that while BJP has always welcomed any amendments in UAPA bill, saying,"If terrorist organisations will grow two steps, n we have to move four steps ahead. BJP has been supporting every amendment to UAPA, but trend changed when Congress came in Opposition. Terror is t problem of India alone but it is a global problem. Every country has made strong laws to fight terrorism."

Winter Session: Parliament passes 14 of 18 bills, Lok Sabha achieves 114% productivity

National Investigation ncy (Amendment) Bill

Ar bill which extended power of National Investigation ncy - ncy was set up in 2009 in wake of Mumbai terror attack (26/11), was introduced by Shah in monsoon session and passed by Lok Sabha on July 8 and Rajya Sabha on July 17. Bill amended National Investigation ncy (NIA) Act, 2008 and provides for a national-level ncy to investigate and prosecute offences listed in a schedule (scheduled offences).  Furr, Act allows for creation of Special Courts for trial of scheduled offences.

While Opposition claimed that Bill will target Muslims, Amit Shah appealed to all Opposition that this bill will strengn our ncies. He said that bill is necessary to send a strong mess to terrorists. He added, "I want to assure House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi government will t allow any misuse of this law".

NIA bill in Lok Sabha: Government seeks to augment investigative ncy; Congress & AIMIM offer opposition

Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019

A contentious bill which was debated as an 'attempt to endanger Gandhi family' was introduced by Shah and passed by Lok Sabha on vember 27 and Rajya Sabha on December 3. This Bill had two major changes - only Prime Minister of country and family that resides with him immediately will be given SPG security and a former Prime Minister and his family members will be provided SPG cover only for a period of five years after he or she leaves office. Act also proposed to provide SPG security based on threat level assessed by Centre.

Addressing house, Union Minister Amit Shah said, "Security cant be made a status symbol. It's t true that we've brought SPG Bill by keeping only Gandhi family in mind. Why demand only SPG? SPG cover is meant for only 'head of state', we cant be giving it to everyone." Several Opposition members claimed that it was targetted at Gandhis as only PM Modi is currently covered by SPG according to new amendment. 

 Amit Shah: 'SPG t a status symbol; t focused on one family'