![\"map\"](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/11D6F\/production\/_110117037_3559ad2d-0d6c-47c5-bea4-b66cd5eefda7.png\")
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The National Register of Citizens (NRC)<\/a>\u00a0is a list of people who can prove they came to the state by 24 March 1971, a day before neighbouring Bangladesh became an independent country.<\/p>\n In the run-up to its publication, the BJP had supported the NRC, but changed tack days before the final list was published, saying it was error-ridden.<\/p>\n The reason for that was a lot of Bengali Hindus – a strong voter base for the BJP – were left off the list, and would possibly become illegal immigrants.<\/p>\n The CAB is seen as being linked to the register, although it is not the same thing. It will help protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment.<\/p>\n The Indian Union Muslim League, a political party, has petitioned the country’s top court to\u00a0declare the bill illegal<\/a>.<\/p>\n In their petition to the Supreme Court, the Indian Union Muslim League argued that the bill violated articles of equality, fundamental rights and the right to life.<\/p>\n More than 700 eminent Indian personalities, including jurists, lawyers, academics and actors, have signed a statement “categorically” condemning the bill.<\/p>\n Investigative journalist Rana Ayyub told the BBC that it was sending out the wrong message.<\/p>\n “Clearly you are catering to your Hindu base by telling them that this country is only for Hindus,” she said.<\/p>\n “The world’s biggest democracy had a big heart when it could accommodate people. Right now we are coming across to the world as petty vindictive civilisation. That’s not what India stood for.”<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Has the bill been challenged?<\/h2>\n