Even after a three-hour-long meeting, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) couldn’t agree on the Citizenship Bill. The next date of the JPC meeting too hasn’t been decided.
Hence it is doubtful whether the committee’s report can be presented in Parliament before the Winter Session ends. And if that does not happen, the Bill won’t be passed during the upcoming session.
Keeping this urgency in mind, the committee’s not being able to come to a decision is an indication of the fact, according to political experts, that the Modi government is not having its way, at least for the time being.
The core theme of the Citizenship Bill is about providing citizenship to religious minorities from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and others, who are fleeing persecution in their own countries. But such people entering India would be identified as illegal immigrants.
It is here that the point of conflict arises: The opposition parties allege that such discrimination on the basis of religion regarding the providing of citizenship is an affront to the secular fabric of the country, and goes against the Constitution.
It is apparently strange that the two MPs from Assam in the JPC did not say a thing about this contention of the opposition, and this has only strengthened the latter’s position.
In reality, though, the BJP is stuck between the devil and the deep sea – not only the opposition, a few coalition partners too have raised their objections regarding the Bill. The Asom Gana Parishad has threatened to walk out of the BJP-led ruling coalition in Assam if the Citizenship Bill is passed in Parliament. There have been protests too against this Bill in Assam. A few border states have raised objections as well.
At the same time, the JPC has decided to send a notice to the BJP minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma over his controversial speech on denying people the right to self-determination.
Against the backdrop of these concerns, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, BJP Rajya Sabha MP, said at the JPC meeting, “The issue is touchy, and hence there is no need to hurry with the Bill.”
Thus it is clear that there is a lot of difference of opinion regarding the Citizenship Bill among the NDA partners. The alliance has received a big jolt.
It needs to be reminded that discussion on the Citizenship Bill has been going on over the last 21 months. Even after so much discussion, there has been no unity of opinion. On the one hand there is opposition from some NDA partners, and on the other hand, from the opposition parties. Hence it can be safe to assume that the Bill will be put on the backburner for now.
At the JPC meeting, there was strong opposition to the Bill from the Congress, SP, BSP and DMK. Hence there couldn’t be detailed discussions on all its aspects. The BJP leader, Meenakshi Lekhi, though, stressed on the need to pass the Bill as quickly as possible.
In the 30-member JPC committee, 18 are on the side of the government and 12 are opposed to it. The chairman of the committee is the BJP Lok Sabha MP, Rajendra Agrawal.
After the meeting got over, Trinamool MP and spokesperson, Derek O’Brien tweeted thus, along with a smiley:
Meeting of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Citizenship Amendment Bill just concluded in #Parliament . Rules of Parliament meetings prescribe that an MP cannot divulge proceedings. Will never break the rules. But this emoji should suffice. (smiley)
