The Shiv Sena is all set to defy its newfound allies and back the Citizenship Amendment Bill, if media reports are to be believed. As per reports, the Shiv Sena on Sunday decided to back the Bill which has faced severe opposition from ‘Secular’ parties which believe that it discriminates against Muslims.
The Congress will oppose the Bill in the Parliament, however, its ally in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena is expected to support it. One Sena MP told the Hindustan Times, “We are in favour of the bill as it is against infiltrators. It aims to help give citizenship rights to persecuted Hindus, Jains, Christians, and Buddhists in the three neighbouring counties.”
The Shiv Sena had recently broken off its alliance with its traditional partner, the BJP, and entered into a coalition government with the NCP and the Congress. In the Common Minimum Program of the Aghadi government, the Shiv Sena promised to uphold ‘secular values’ and work for ‘minorities’ in Maharashtra. 400 workers of the Shiv Sena had recently quit the party and join the BJP after it turned ‘Secular’.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill seeks to provide citizenship to religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who are being persecuted due to their religious identity. Despite the noble intentions of the Bill, it has been opposed tooth and nail by the ‘Secular’ parties. The bill will be tabled in the parliament this week. Although the rulling NDA is short of majority in Rajya, it is expected to get suppoprt of parties like AIADMK, BJD and YSRCP, with some parties remaining undecided till now. Therefore, the government is confident that the bill will be passed by the parliament in the ongoing winter session.
