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Regular-article-logo Friday, 10 May 2024

JD(U) leaders urge chief Nitish Kumar to oppose Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

After Prashant Kishor, party spokesman Pavan Varma asks Kumar to reconsider supporting the bill

The Telegraph New Delhi Published 10.12.19, 09:33 AM
The bill is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and against the unity and harmony of the country, apart from being against the secular principles of the JDU, party national spokesperson Pavan K. Varma said.

The bill is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and against the unity and harmony of the country, apart from being against the secular principles of the JDU, party national spokesperson Pavan K. Varma said. Wikimedia Commons

After the party’s national vice-president Prashant Kishor expressed disappointment over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, JD(U) national spokesperson Pavan K. Varma has urged Bihar chief minister and party chief Nitish Kumar to “reconsider” supporting the contentious bill in Rajya Sabha.

“I urge Shri Nitish Kumar to reconsider support to the #CAB in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and against the unity and harmony of the country, apart from being against the secular principles of the JDU. Gandhiji would have strongly disapproved it,” Varma tweeted.

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The BJP is likely to table the bill in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Earlier, Kishor had opposed the bill saying he was “disappointned” with his party’s support to the bill.

“Disappointed to see JDU supporting #CAB that discriminates right of citizenship on the basis of religion. It's incongruous with the party's constitution that carries the word secular thrice on the very first page and the leadership that is supposedly guided by Gandhian ideals,” he said in a tweet on Monday.

The BJP had exuded confidence in the passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha, saying that it has number to do so, sources told PTI.

The controversial bill was easily passed 311-80 in Lok Sabha on Monday night amid fierce debated that ended around midnight.

The effective strength of Rajya Sabha is 238 and currently the BJP has 105 members in the House, with 83 belonging to the ruling party. The JD(U) has six MLAs, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has three and LJP and RPI(A) have one member each. There are also 11 nominated members.

The BJP is in talks with the AIADMK, which has 11 members in the Upper House, to get their support.

If the JD(U) — which has previously opposed its coalition partner on various issues — withdraws its support, the BJP may be facing a roadblock in its path to get the bill passed.

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