New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, late on Thursday night, approving it become an Act.
The Act allows Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minority communities – Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian – facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
As per gazette of India, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 of “Parliament received the assent of the President on December 12, 2019, and here by published for general information”.
The Act comes into effect with its publication in the official gazette.
As per the Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have migrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and by the Lok Sabha on Monday midnight.