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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 11 May 2024

Thackeray demands clarity on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

He said that he will support the bill only after Shiv Sena's queries are resolved

PTI New Delhi Published 10.12.19, 10:48 AM
A detailed discussion and debate is necessary on the bill, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said.

A detailed discussion and debate is necessary on the bill, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said. (PTI)

The Shiv Sena won't back the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha till the questions raised by the party on the bill are clarified, said Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday.

The Sena supported the bill in the Lower House, which was passed past midnight on Monday amid a fierce debate that lasted over seven hours.

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The bill seeks to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan after facing religious persecution there. .

A detailed discussion and debate is necessary on the bill, Thackeray said.

The chief minister also slammed the government over the sluggish growth of the economy, saying that the central government needs to worry about the economy, job crisis and rising cost of living, especially the onions price rise, more than the implementation of the bill.

'We need to change this notion that one who supports the bill and the BJP is a patriot and one who opposes it is anti-national.The government should answer all the issues raised on the Bill,' he said.

Thackeray took a dig at the BJP over the soaring price of onions, saying if people who have sought refuge in India and who will come under the bill's ambit will now get more onions.

'The BJP feels that any one who disagrees (with it) is a 'deshdrohi' (traitor), Thackeray said.

The Sena has suggested the changes it wishes to be included in the bill, the chief minister said.

'Where will these refugees stay.. in which state. All this should be clarified,' he added.

'We raised some questions but they were not answered. It is an illusion that only the BJP cares for the country,' Thackeray said.

'We don't take a stand based on who likes it or not,' he said when asked about his party's stance on the bill.

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