Around 600 Writers, Activists, Former Judges Urge Central Govt to Withdraw Citizenship Bill
Mumbai: Ahead of the Citizenship Amendment Bill after it was passed in the Lok Sabha, it is reported that around 600 persons including writers, artists, former judges and officials urged the central government to withdraw on Tuesday.
Terming the bill as divisive, discriminatory and unconstitutional, these activists said the bill would bring untold suffering to people across the country.
Stating that the Constitution of India speaks about the basic principles of equality regardless of gender, caste, religion, class, community or language, he said that the Bill would harm the basic nature of the Republic of India.
More than 1,000 scientists and scholars on the cab on Monday expressed their displeasure in a petition urging the central government to withdraw the proposed bill.
The petition stated, “We are issuing this statement in our personal capacity as concerned citizens to express to our citizens as per the plan to introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 in Parliament.”
The scholars who signed the petition include Harvard University, University of Massachusetts, Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Indian Institute of Science, University of Delhi, Chennai Mathematical Institute, International Center for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute. For fundamental research, the University of Bonn, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Oslo.
The bill was passed with 311 votes in favour, and 80 against the controversial bill. The bill will now be taken to Rajya Sabha for discussion.
Also Read: Adnan Sami welcomes Citizenship (Amendment), Bill
The citizenship bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, in order to grant Indian nationality to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians, who come to India due to religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan even if they don’t possess proper documents.
(With Agency Inputs)
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and interesting stories.
