Citizenship Amendment Bill: BJP cites national interest, Cong says black day

The contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill has been passed in the Lok Sabha. While the BJP hailed the bill as one that is in national interest, the Congress party alleged that this is a dark day in the history of the constitution. The bill was passed in the lower house after a day-long debate and now awaits passage in the Rajya Sabha. The bill seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan escaping religious persecution there.