"Citizenship cannot be given on the basis of religion," Akhilesh Yadav said. (File)

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his statement that the government will not budge an inch on the implementation of the amended citizenship act, saying that it could have serious repercussions.

"You must all have read Mahabharat. There also it was stated that not even an inch of land will be given. Look what happened after that," Mr Yadav told reporters.

"Opposition parties objected to the bill in the Lok Sabha but it was passed. The government did not pay heed to opposition's objections in Parliament and so today the people are on the roads to oppose it. The country has been defamed the world over," Mr Yadav said.

He said the BJP workers have come out to explain the amended citizenship act to the people but how will they explain it to others when they have not understood it themselves.

"Citizenship cannot be given on the basis of religion. The government has got the bill passed by flouting the Constitution," Mr Yadav said.