The Shiv Sena says it won't support a controversial citizenship bill that's now a step away from being approved by Parliament -- not unless its questions are answered, its leader says. That's despite the fact that the Sena voted with the government last night to help the bill sail through the Lok Sabha, where the Centre enjoys an abundant majority in any case.
Now, the Shiv Sena has informed the Opposition that it will oppose the bill -- which proposes a path to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim religious minorities being persecuted in three Islamic nations -- in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow.
The party's supremo, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, said today it would not support the legislation unless there's clarity on the questions it asked in the Lok Sabha.
"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.
Earlier today, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said his party might take a different stand in the Rajya Sabha after voting in favour of the citizenship bill in the Lower House.
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The Sena has just three MPs in the Rajya Sabha; its opposition is unlikely to dent the Centre's chances of seeing the bill through. The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is hugely controversial; its critics say it is unconstitutional, and protests have been held in several parts of India against it.
A bandh called by a body of student organisations is currently underway in several states in the Northeast.