The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, is not likely to be tabled in Parliament in the upcoming monsoon session.
It has been stated that the “Joint Parliamentary Committee” would examine it further and holding wider consultations.
What is the bill mainly about?
What - The Bill’s argues that the aim is to help persons of Indian origin, who are facing persecution in the neighbourhood.
It seeks to make it easy for illegal migrants (in India) from minority communities of 3 neighbouring countries to gain Indian citizenship.
Consequently, “Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Christians and Parsis” who’ve arrived from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan stand to benefit.
Significantly, Muslims aren’t covered as they form the majority in these countries (even persecuted minority Muslim sects aren’t covered).
Technicalities - Under the present law, citizenship by naturalisation requires applicants to have stayed in the country for 11 years of the previous 14 years.
The proposed amendment reduces the residency requirement to six years, apart from one full year of residency preceding citizenship approval.
Why are some opposing the bill?
Assam has been witnessing strong protests against the bill, as natives fear that non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh might get citizenship.
Once the migrants are granted citizenship, their political clout in Assam’s politics will grow drastically, which might undermine the natives.
The fear is mainly rooted in the sheer number of illegal migrants that are already residing in Assam’s Barak Valley.
Significantly, the ongoing exercise for updating of “National Citizen’s Registry” (NCR) with its cut off date as March 24th 1971, runs contrary to the bill.
The NCR exercise is a direct consequence of the “Assam Accord”, and is intended to identify illegal migrants from Bangladesh.
Quick Facts:
Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC):
JPCs are ad-hoc parliamentary committees which are usually formed when a motion for it is adopted by one house and supported by the other house.
Notably, presiding officers of both houses can also discuss and form JPCs, even without house resolutions.
Significantly, Lok Sabha is always contributes 2/3rd members and Rajya Sabha contributes the rest 1/3rd.
JPCs are constituted for specific purposes and they can hear from experts, public bodies, associations, individuals or interested parties to fulfil their task.
Thus far, JPCs have been constituted for Bofors Scam, 1992 Stock Market Scam, 2G Scam, Soft Drink Pesticide Issue etc...
