New Delhi, December 10: Leaders of the Janata Dal (United) seemed divided after the party supported controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Lok Sabha on Monday. After JD(U) vice president Prashant Kishor, party's national general secretary Pawan Verma urged party chief Nitish Kumar to re-think on his decision. "I have urged our National President Nitish Kumar to reconsider the party's stand. This Bill is unconstitutional, discriminatory and against the spirit of secularism, unity and harmony of our country," Pawan Verma told news agency ANI. Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019: What Fundamental Rights Article 14, 15 Guarantee And Arguments in Favour of & Against CAB.

Moments after the JD(U) backed the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha, Prashant Kishor expressed disappointment, saying the party's move violates its own constitution. "Disappointed to see JDU supporting #CAB that discriminates right of citizenship on the basis of religion. It's incongruous with the party's constitution that carries the word secular thrice on the very first page and the leadership that is supposedly guided by Gandhian ideals," Kishor tweeted. Citizenship Amendment Bill Debate: Manipur to be Exempted Via Inner Line Permit, Says Amit Shah; Here's How ILP Will Offset CAB Impact.

Prashant Kishor's Tweet:

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The legislation is criticised for leaving out Muslims. Nitish Kumar's JD(U) was among the parties that supported the legislation in Lok Sabha on Monday. JD(U) MP Rajeev Ranjan Singh said that his party will support the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill because it promises Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities of Pakistan.

Former Bihar Deputy Chief and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav also slammed Nitish Kumar for supporting the CAB. Asserting that his party will fight against the legislation, Tejashwi Yadav said: "Nitish Kumar has again betrayed the people of Bihar by supporting the bill. Nitish Kumar is afraid of Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.  Notably, the JD(U) had opposed the CAB in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha last year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 10, 2019 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).