Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant extends support to Centre on Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Lok Sabha passed the Citizenship Bill with a majority of 311 votes against 80 votes in the Lower House where 391 members present had voted

New Delhi: After Shiv Sena supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) in the Lok Sabha, party MP Arvind Sawant on Tuesday (December 10) said that the support will continue in the Rajya Sabha as well because the Centre's move is of "national interest".

"We will support (CAB). Do we have different roles? Shiv Sena always takes the stand which is good for the national interest, this is not anyone's monopoly," Sawant told reporters.

The Sena leader asserted that his party being in coalition with the Congress in Maharashtra would not affect its stand on the issue as they were not a member of UPA.

"We are not a member of the UPA yet, our common minimum program is for the state. When we become a part of the UPA then it will be for people's welfare. This was also our stand even when we were a part of the NDA," he said.

Sawant further stated that Sena's questions regarding voting rights for people who will be granted citizenship and where they will be rehabilitated, had not been answered in full by the BJP but the decision had been taken keeping the interest of the refugees who had already arrived and were living in India.

Meanwhile, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was passed by Lok Sabha yesterday, will be tabled in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday (December 11).

The Bill, which seeks to give citizenship to refugees from the Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

In Rajya Sabha, the Centre requires the support of at least 123 MPs in the 245-member house.