Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan says he strongly condemns a proposed Indian citizenship law meant to help non-Muslim refugees of religious persecution in his country and two others.
In a tweet, he said today that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill "violates all norms of international human rights law and bilateral agreements with Pakistan".
He attacked the BJP-led government and its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), claiming the citizenship bill was part of a "Hindu Rashtra" design "of expansionism".
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed early this morning -- shortly after midnight -- by the Lok Sabha, where the government and its allies have an overwhelming majority. The bill will be discussed in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow afternoon. The government does not have a majority there, but is expected to receive support from neutral parties.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is hugely controversial; its critics say it is unconstitutional, and protests have been held in several parts of India against it. A bandh called by a body of student organisations is currently underway in several states in the Northeast.