Shiv Sena's flip-flop on CAB due to threat from Congress; 'Cabinet berth not imp': Sources

Shiv Sena's stand on contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has been quite ambivalent. saffron party's stance has oscillated between supporting former ally BJP or wearing newly acquired 'secular' bge with Maharashtra allies NCP-Congress. On Wednesday, reports emerged that Congress party has allegedly threatened Shiv Sena over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, to change ir stand. 

As per sources, Sena might take a U-turn over issue in Rajya Sabha after backing Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday post-midnight. According to sources, Sena was told by top Congress brass that Cabinet berths were t important, hinting a probable pull-out from Maha Vikar Aghi.

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill seeks to give citizenship to n-Muslims from Pakistan, Banglesh, and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution re, saying it was violative of various provisions of Constitution, including a move to grant citizenship on basis of religion.  Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was tabled by Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday on. 

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Shiv Sena on CAB

During debate in Lower House of Parliament, Shiv Sena stated that if intention of bill is to “create a vote bank” by providing citizenship to foreign Hindus n it is t good for country. Sena supported Bill, however, suggested that voting rights should t be given to new citizens for 25 years.

party, however, seemed unassertive since former Union Minister and senior Sena leer Arvind Sawant said that y will support Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha since y will t be playing different roles. When questioned if Shiv Sena will support Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in Upper House following ir backing in Lok Sabha, Shiv Sena MP said, "How can we have different roles. Shiv Sena stands in favour of India. This is t anybody's mopoly." 

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On Tuesday, saffron party backtracked from its stand and said that it would reconsider its position in Rajya Sabha. Sena Chief and Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray stated that his party would t support Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha unless all questions asked by its MPs receive a proper answer. confusion in Shiv Sena has been fueled furr by Congress' Rahul Gandhi, who opposed Bill in a tweet and said that it attacks Indian Constitution and any party supporting it is destroying foundation of country. Again on Wednesday, Sanjay Raut stated that party's stand in Rajya Sabha over Citizenship Amendment Bill may differ from ir stand in Lok Sabha but left an air of ambiguity around this statement.

This move of Sena backing CAB is in direct contriction to its recently formed Maha Vikas Aghi alliance's stance. Shiv Sena which allied with 'secular' Congress, h recently released its 'secular' joint Common Minimum Programme. Until recent fallout between saffron allies, Shiv Sena has often echoed stand of BJP on prominent issues like building of Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Bharat Ratna for Savarkar, abrogation of Article 370 among ors.

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