NEW DELHI : Union Home Minister Amit Shah broke his silence on the controversial Citizenship Amendment, saying the govt will consider changes if need be. The announcement follows week-long violent protests across northern states in which three protesters lost their lives to police bullets.
Assam the epicenter of ongoing unrest, has been rocked by unprecedented violence since 11 Dec, the day Rajya Sabha cleared the controversial Bill.
Protesters resorted to arson and vandalism on large scale across the state. Mobs set fire to three railway stations apart from blocking tracks and burning down vehicles and properties. Roads and major highways were overwhelmed by protesters making traffic impossible.
As confrontation between police and crowds escalated, paramilitary and costal guards were roped in to deal with the situation. Three persons died in police shootouts in separate locations.
Now with no sign of a lull, Shah's statement comes in as an apparent gesture to ease the war-like climate, The BJP stalwart has agreed to put the new Act through elaborate discussions for possible corrections. This is his first response on the new law, since its coming into effect on 11 Dec. He was addressing a rally at Ranchi in Jharkhand.
The amended Citizenship Act states that an individual without documentation, should have resided 6 years instead of the previous 11 years in India, and should be a non-Muslim from either of 6 communities scheduled in the Act including Hindus, to obtain citizenship of India.
