India's government has tabled a bill in parliament which offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), says this will give sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution.
Critics, however, say the bill is part of a BJP agenda to marginalise Muslims.
India Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the lower house Lok Sabha on Monday (Dec 9), reports NDTV.
"The bill is not against minorities," he said adding "they are open to answer each aspect of the bill in the house".
The lower house voted on the introduction of the bill in the house with 293 MPs voting yes, 82 MPs voted no.
The Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) seeks to amend 1955 law to grant citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Christians, Sikhs and Parsis facing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan - but excludes Muslims.
It was first introduced in 2016 but was withdrawn after an alliance partner withdrew support and protests flared in India's remote and ethnically diverse northeastern region