Rajya Sabha clears immigration bill amid Congress, TMC walkout

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi criticised the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, and said that the legislation sought to treat all foreigners as "potential criminals" who were liable to be viewed with serious suspicion by India.

The bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha last week, seeks to regulate immigration, entry and stay of foreigners in India.

"I oppose this bill and seek substantial changes in its pernicious character. It is clearly designed for ulterior motives by a control freak govt bent upon sending out a message of fear through the architecture of omniscient, Orwellian surveillance for foreigners," Singhvi said.

Various amendments moved by the opposition were negated as the Upper House passed the bill by voice vote amid a walkout by Congress and TMC MPs.

Leading the opposition's charge, Singhvi said that the proposed legislation had elevated a constable to the level of a super commissioner and it "gives a licence for harassment, based on the fundamentally false assumption that foreigners have no rights under the Indian Constitution". "From dreams of being a vishwaguru and enveloping the world in the embrace of India's soft power and 'athithi devo bhava', this bill sends a message that all foreigners are potential criminals to be viewed with serious suspicion by India acting as an unwelcoming fortress for its unwanted non-guests," he added.

The noted lawyer said, "Excessive delegation to lowly officials with humongous breadth of discretion is the visiting card of this bill."

"Not only does the bill empower the central govt to refuse entry to or deport any foreigner on the grounds of national security, sovereignty, integrity of India, foreign relations and public health but also on such other grounds as the central govt may specify," Singhvi said.

He also opposed a provision which states the immigration officer's decision shall be final and binding.