While Shiv Sena supports Citizenship Bill, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray unsure
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said his government won’t support the Citizenship Amendment Bill until they get clarity. Thackeray's statement came hours after Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said that the support for the Bill will continue in the Rajya Sabha as well because of 'national interest'.
FollowMumbai: A day after the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that the Shiv Sena will not support the proposed legislation unless the party's queries in the Rajya Sabha were addressed.
"We will not support the Bill unless things are clear. If any citizen is afraid of this Bill than one must clear their doubts. They are our citizens so one must answer their questions too," Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena chief, told reporters here. Attacking its former ally BJP over their stance on the Bill, the chief minister said, "Terming anyone who disagrees as a traitor is their illusion. We have suggested changes in the Citizenship Amendment Bill we want in the Rajya Sabha. It is an illusion that only BJP cares for the country."
Interestingly, Thackeray's statement came hours after Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said that the support for the Bill will continue in the Rajya Sabha as well because of 'national interest'.
"We will support the Bill. Do we have different roles? Shiv Sena always takes the stand which is good for the national interest. This is not anyone's monopoly," he said after the party backed the Bill in the Lok Sabha yesterday.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The Bill, which seeks to give citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Zorastrian communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh was passed in Lok Sabha on Monday.
After heated discussions spanning seven hours, the Bill was passed with a majority of 311 votes against 80 in the Lower House where 391 members present had voted.
