Rajya Sabha LIVE: Citizenship Bill Not Only for Assam, Applies to Other States As Well, Says Rajnath Singh

"It's not about PM Modi but about crores of India's youth, says BJP MP Prabhat Jha, requesting Opposition to pass the Quota Bill in Rajya Sabha. "It's only Narendra Modi who has followed slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' in its true spirit, like a devout would chant verses of Gita. Let's join our hands for development of all," Jha adds.

Congress says that the Quota Bill has been tabled due to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "It's about crores of youth. We request the opposition to come together on the issue," says BJP MP Prabhat Jha.

"Situation in North East is under control. Several steps have been taken in last four years to control illegal migration. The government is committed to preserve distinct identity of Assam," says Rajnath Singh.

#NewsAlert -- Home Minister @RajnathSingh speaks on Citizenship Bill in Rajya Sabha. | #CitizenshipDebate #BattleOf2019 pic.twitter.com/2qB60tJhYM

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 9, 2019

'Citizenship Bill for All States' | Condemning violence in Assam and other North East states over Citizenship Bill, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the bill is not only for Assam, but will be extended for migrants in other states as well. "There have been efforts to create confusion over the issue," he said.

"We have taken some big steps for the enforcement of Assam Accord," says Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.

#JustIn | We have taken some big steps for the enforcement of Assam Accord: Home Minister @RajnathSingh in Rajya Sabha. | #CitizenshipDebate #BattleOf2019 pic.twitter.com/uO7ThdNwWI

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 9, 2019

Rajnath Singh Speaks on Citizenship Bill | Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks in Rajya Sabha on Citizenship Bill. He condemns the violence that took place in Assam and Meghalaya on Tuesday.

As the debate over Quota Bill continues in Rajya Sabha, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, while reacting to the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill, said, "Another Ambedkar is born in the 21st century. And he has taken this decision for the economically weak people. I want to congratulate PM, son of poor has today thought about all the poor people."

Rajya Sabha Adjourned | The voting for the Quota Bill is taking place in Rajya Sabha. Of 163 members, 89 of NDA, 69 of UPA and 80 Others are supporting the bill, while 13 of AIADMK are unclear and one member of  IUML have voted against. The House has been adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar.

Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot says, "The Bill has not been passed in a hurry. The intentions behind this Bill are noble. The country's poor need this quota."

Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot on 10% quota bill in Rajya Sabha: This bill will uplift the poor of the nation. This decision has been taken with thorough consideration; Opposition comes into the well of the House as the minister speaks on the Bill. pic.twitter.com/THZVUmiicZ

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

CPI Wants Quota Bill to Go to Select Committee | CPI leader D Raja says that the quota bill needs to go to select committee first before it comes up for discussion in Rajya Sabha.

#NewsAlert -- We know that the Bill is being introduced in a hurry because of the upcoming elections. We understand what is happening we are not kids: Anand Sharma, Cong in RS #ModiQuotaSop pic.twitter.com/9bWFrLO9W6

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 9, 2019

"We know that the bill is being introduced in a hurry because of the upcoming elections. We understand what is happening, we are not kids," says Congress MP Anand Sharma as quota bill is tabled in Rajya Sabha.

Quota Bill Tabled | Government introduces in Rajya Sabha a Constitutional Amendment Bill to give 10% quota to upper caste poor in jobs and education. 

Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Wednesday adjourned till 1200 hrs following ruckus by opposition parties led by Congress over the Citizenship Amendment Bill. Slogan shouting Congress members trooped into the well of the House protesting against the bill that gives citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. They were supported by TMC members who moved into ailes. Deputy Chairman Harivansh called members to raise matters of public importance during the zero hour but nothing could be heard in the din. Anand Sharma (Cong) said the entire North-East is on fire as the legislation would effect the security and safety of the region.

The reservation will be above the existing 50% and the government will amend Articles 15 and 16, which deal with discrimination and equal opportunity, of the Constitution to implement it.

Brahmins, Rajputs, Jats to Benefit from Quota Bill | The proposed quota would be over and above the 50 per cent reservation already available to SC/ST and Other Backward Castes. The major castes to benefit from the proposed law are Brahmins, Rajputs (Thakurs), Jats, Marathas, Bhumihars, several trading castes, Kapus and Kammas among other upper castes. The BJP believes that if opposition parties, whose support is a must for its passage in the Rajya Sabha where the government lacks numbers, vote against it, then they will risk losing support of an influential section of society.

Being a constitutional amendment bill, the quota bill for upper caste poor will require presence of at least half of the members even in the upper house and support from two-third of them. Replying to the debate on Tuesday, Social Justice Minister Thaavarchand Gehlot sought to allay doubts raised by opposition members about the legislation's fate if it is challenged in the Supreme Court, asserting he can say with confidence that the apex court will accept it. The Modi government's policy and intention is good and that is why it has enabled the reservation for the poor in the general category, he said, seeking support of all parties for the Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019. "Your doubts are unfounded. Put them to rest," he told the opposition members, many of whom dubbed the bill as "jumla" (rhetoric) and "gimmick", questioned its legal standing and accused the government of bringing it in haste with an eye on the Lok Sabha polls, which are expected in a few months. Gehlot said the bill was in line with Prime Minister Modi's assertion at the time of assuming power in 2014 that his government would be devoted to the cause of the poor and work for "sabka saath sabka vikas" (with all, development for all). "This is an historic decision and in the interest of the country," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday described the passage of a bill, which provides 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education, as a "landmark moment in our nation's history". In his tweets soon after the Lok Sabha passed the bill, he said it sets into motion the process to achieve an effective measure that ensures justice for all sections of society. "It is our endeavour to ensure that every poor person, irrespective of caste or creed, gets to lead a life of dignity, and gets access to all possible opportunities," Modi added. "The passage of The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha is a landmark moment in our nation's history," he said.  The prime minister expressed his thanks to MPs from all the parties who supported the measure. "We are resolutely committed to the principle of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'," he said.

"The Home Minister should come to the house and make a statement on the Citizen Amendment Bill. His is a serious situation. North East is burning. Government should assure NE that India stands united," Congress MP Anand Sharma says in Rajya Sabha.

"The country expects the House to function. As per normal working days, we should have been working, on most of them the House stood adjourned. There is one extra day to consider legislation," Jaitley says.

Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha: The country expects the House to function. As per normal working days, we should have been working, on most of them the House stood adjourned. There is one extra day to consider legislations. pic.twitter.com/ATQWHxDs5T

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

Union Minister Arun Jaitley says that the Chair has taken a decision to discuss an important bill. Opposition members continue with their protests in Rajya Sabha with MPs entering well of the House. "Save Assam, Save NE, Save India," Lawmakers raise slogans over Citizenship Bill.

Rajya Sabha Proceedings Begin | Opposition cries foul over extension of Winter session as Rajya Sabha proceedings begin. TMC says that extension of House is illegal. BJP's Vijay Goel replies that a lot of time has been wasted in protests. "We should be concerned about quota bill," he adds.

Subhimal Bhattacharjee from Jookto organisation on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill said that the bill is good but it's quite late. "Definitely, Bill is good in principle and intent. The bill is not directly giving you citizenship, it is an enabler. What government has done is the right step, possibly, it could have been done much earlier," he said.

Subhimal Bhattacharjee from Jookto organisation on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill: Definitely, Bill is good in principle&intent. The bill is not directly giving you citizenship, it is an enabler. What govt has done is the right step, possibly, it could have been done much earlier.” pic.twitter.com/9CPZqRsCAL

— ANI (@ANI) January 9, 2019

The government wants quota bill to be taken up at 12 as there no question hour today. The Opposition, on the other hand, is holding a strategy meeting ahead of the Rajya Sabha session.

#NewsAlert -- Opposition strategy meet ahead of last day of Rajya Sabha | @_pallavighosh with more details.

Join @k_navjyot on #SettingTheAgenda pic.twitter.com/nWbozYMu71

— News18 (@CNNnews18) January 9, 2019

While Cong is Supporting  Bill, Other Parties to Create Trouble | The sources also said members of opposition parties are upset over the extension of the Rajya Sabha proceedings by a day and will protest in the house. The opposition members did not allow the Upper House to transact any business on Tuesday as the house was adjourned six times during the day. The sources said while the Congress is supporting the bill, other opposition parties may create hurdle in its passage.  BJP leaders, however, said that if opposition parties do not extend support to the bill, they will have to face voters' wrath in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday with 323 members voting in its favour and only three voting against it.

Roadblock in Rajya Sabha | Opposition parties are likely to question the Narendra Modi government on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling block lacks majority, over the timing of the general category reservation bill and have asked all their members to be present in full strength, sources said. While virtually all parties supported the passage of the bill that provides 10 per cent quota for the general category poor in jobs and education in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the sources said they are likely to take a tougher stand in the Rajya Sabha on the basis of their sheer numbers. With 73 MPs, the BJP has the highest number of seats in the house, which currently has a strength of 244. This is followed by the Congress which has 50 members.

Significance of Quota Bill for BJP | Sources said the Congress is supporting the bill but some other opposition parties may create hurdle in its passage in Rajya Sabha. Influential castes such as Marathas, Kapus, Jats and Patidars have hit the streets in the past few years, seeking reservation benefits. Their protests at times have turned violent. Political watchers believe that sections of upper castes had drifted from the party of late following its aggressive push to win over backward classes and Dalits, and the bill will help the party to win them over. The BJP had lost to the Congress in three states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, where it was in power. 

Upper Caste Quota Bill | Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a constitutional amendment bill to provide 10 per cent reservation in education and government jobs for 'economically weak' people across castes and religions, with virtually all parties supporting it despite the Opposition calling the proposed law a pre-poll 'stunt' of the Modi government. The bill, which the government said was "historic" and in the country's interest, will now be tabled on Wednesday in Rajya Sabha where proceedings have already been extended by a day. After a debate that continued for over four and half hours, 323 Lok Sabha members voted in support of the bill and only three voted against it, underlining the cross-party support given political significance of the proposed legislation.

Controversy Over Citizenship Bill | The new bill has become more contentious in the wake of allegations that the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), being implemented in Assam, leaving out lakhs of people which allegedly include mostly Muslims immigrants. Opponents have alleged that the new bill legitimises non-Muslim immigrants, while Muslims who might had migrated years ago to India would be deported post-NRC. Seeking to assuage the concerns in the Northeast, which saw an 11-hour bandh on Tuesday against the legislation, Singh said the proposed law will not be confined to Assam alone. "The burden of those persecuted migrants will be shared by the whole country. Assam alone should not have to bear the entire burden. Government of India is committed to give all help to the State Government and people of Assam," he said. The bill provides for according Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after six years of residence in India instead of 12 years, which is the norm currently, even if they do not possess any document.

Citizenship Bill | The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed a contentious bill seeking to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangaldesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, amid protests in north eastern states and opposition parties terming the proposed law "divisive" and "flawed". Immediately after Home Minister Rajnath Singh introduced the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said there are "flaws" in the bill that does not address the Assam Accord and requested the Speaker to send it to a select committee. His party walked out after the Speaker refused to accept the demand.

Three Crucial Bills in Rajya Sabha Today | Three crucial bills are set be be tabled in Rajya Sabha on the last day of the winter session today. The bill to provide 10 per cent reservation to upper caste poor, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the Triple Talaq Bill will come up in the Upper House. While the upper caste quota bill and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Triple Talaq Bill was passed last year in the Lower House but has been facing stiff opposition in the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA lacks numbers. The three bill are expected to turn up the heat as Opposition is likely to protest in the House.