Eerie similarity to Nazi Germany: Derek O'Brien on Citizenship Amendment Bill

New Delhi: Home Minister Amit Shah has tabled the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha for its final passage to today. The bill seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh under the belief that they have faced persecution in their countries. After a successful passage in Lok Sabha on Monday, the Bill that has provoked widespread protests across the Northeast and several parts of India will now face a crucial test in Rajya Sabha.

Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien speaking in the Rajya Sabha said: "Don't try to teach us what being a Bengali means. We are seeing all these people today trying to teach us what being a true Bengali means and what patriotism means. Don't try to teach us nationalism and patriotism. Look at the records of British prisons to see how patriotic Bengalis are. Who are you to teach us? 84 years ago, Nazi Germany passed a law and today what we are doing in the House has an eerie similarity. Beware of the signs of dictatorship." the leader said.

Protests are underway in Tripura against Citizenship Bill.

A large group of students in Assam fought with the police near the state secretariat on Wednesday. All the students in large numbers were seen proceeding towards the Secretariat. They broke a barricade on GS Road following which the police resorted to lathi charge. Teargas shells were also lobbed at the students who also threw the shells back at the policemen.

Speaking at the Rajya Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "We want to assure the northeastern states that we will protect the people of those states and their cultural, ethnic identity and social identity. They have nothing to fear."