India’s government has quietly shelved a controversial amendment to its citizenship law after violent protests in the north-east of the country.
The bill was aimed at helping Hindus and other minorities move to India from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries.
The legislation cleared parliament’s lower house but the ruling BJP failed to enact it in the upper house, which ended its term without hearing it.
The move marks a major about-turn ahead of general elections due by May.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah told a rally as recently as last month the bill would be pushed through regardless of protests.