Published 18:22 IST, December 10th 2019
Twinkle Khanna opines on 'discrimination' amidst divided views on CAB
The Citizenship Amendment Bill piloted by Home Minister Amit Shah was passed by the Lok Sabha with an overwhelming majority on Monday. Twinkle Khanna reacts.
Amid the ongoing debate over Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), Bollywood actress and author Twinkle Khanna took to her Twitter handle to make a comment. Without mentioning CAB in her tweet, Twinkle wrote: "Discrimination based on race, colour, caste, religion and other such social constructs in whatever form, goes against the fundamental moral integrity of the human condition." Actress Swara Bhasker, who has expressed her disappointment over the Bill supported Twinkle's statement, and liked it.
Actress Urmila Matondkar also condemned the bill on Twitter.
About the Bill
The Citizenship Amendment Bill piloted by Home Minister Amit Shah was passed by the Lok Sabha with an overwhelming majority on Monday night. According to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, non-Muslim minorities, who fled religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and moved to the country before December 31, 2014, will be accorded Indian citizenship. It, however, exempted tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura, as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution, and areas covered under The Inner Line Permit system, notified under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
Shah has asserted that the Modi government was committed to protecting the customs and culture of the northeastern states in an effort to assuage concerns that the proposed law will hurt their distinct identity and alter regional demography.
More Details
The bills seeks to amend the provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 that give refugees belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhism, Jain, Parsi and Christian religions from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan the right to be eligible for citizenship. It also reduces the number of years, from 14 to 6 years, for naturalised citizenship. It means those belonging to the aforementioned religions and nationalities can apply for Indian citizenship after living in India for six years. The citizenship of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders' too can be cancelled if they commit any crime.
(WITH PTI INPUTS)
Updated 18:37 IST, December 10th 2019