(Image source from: Indiatoday.in)

Citizenship Amendment Bill Cleared in Rajya Sabha:- The BJP government on Monday got the Citizenship Amendment Bill approved in Lok Sabha and the bill is now approved in Rajya Sabha. After almost nine hours of debate, the bill was passed in the house. 40 MPs spoke on Citizenship Amendment Bill. The bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship for non-muslims who entered the country from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan till December 31st 2014. The bill will now go to the President for the final approval. 125 members voted in favour of the bill while 105 voted against in Rajya Sabha.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Citizenship Amendment Bill calling it a landmark day. Modi thanked all those who voted in favour of the bill. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi said that it was a dark day in the history of the constitution. The Citizenship Amendment Bill makes it easier for Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Parsis to become Indian citizens. Citizenship Amendment Bill also reduces the 11-year-long wait for non-Muslims from the countries to five years. The northeastern states erupted and people came on to the roads protesting.

(Video Source: NTV Telugu)