Arguments in favour of the Amendment Act

♤ Religious persecution- Nehru-Liaquat pact, also known as the Delhi Pact, signed in 1950, sought to provide certain safeguards and rights to religious minorities like unrecognition of forced conversions and returning of abducted women and looted property etc.

o However, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh have a state religion with discriminatory blasphemy laws, religious violence and forced conversions which has resulted in religious persecution of minority groups.

o For instance, in 1951, the Non-Muslim minorities population 23.20% in Bangladesh which is around 9.6% in 2011.

♤ Illegal immigration from neighboring countries has been a contentious issue for decades.

o E.g. During the 6- year long agitation that started in 1979 in Assam, the protestors demanded the identification and deportation of all illegal foreigners – predominantly Bangladeshi immigrants.

o This act would differentiate between illegal immigrants and persecuted communities seeking refuge.