New Delhi / Cabinet clears Citizenship Bill, likely to be taken up in House next week

The Union Cabinet is learned to have cleared Wednesday the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that proposes to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Prakash Javadekar will brief the media today about the decisions taken in the Cabinet meeting held today morning.

The Citizenship Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week. The Bill that could not be cleared in the previous Lok Sabha session has been re-drafted to address concerns expressed by states in the North-East. BJP has also issued the whip to its MP to ensure their presence in Parliament when the Bill is taken up next week.

The National Capital Territory of Delhi Bill, 2019 will be taken up in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The bill will help grant ownership rights to 100 residents who have properties in unauthorized colonies in Delhi. While the Delhi BJP has called the Bill historic, AAP’s Raghav Chadha called it an “eyewash” and a “lollipop” ahead of the Assembly elections.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019 and The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2019 in Lok Sabha.