Citizenship Amendment Bill in Winter Session of Parliament

The Winter Session of Parliament, which begins on 18 Nov, is expected to witness heated arguments and opposition on number of Bills including Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. The 250th Rajya Sabha Session is scheduled to have 20 sittings between 18 November and 13 December.  The Present Bill seeks to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955 to make illegal immigrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for Indian citizenship. The Bill is criticised for implying a hierarchy of citizenship where some illegal immigrants are considered to be more “equal” than others, on the basis of religion. This may violate Constitution’s Article 14 which guarantees right to equality.