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A veteran Conservative MP says he is now free to speak out against Bill C-24, saying he always opposed the controversial legislation that allowed the federal government to revoke the Canadian citizenship of dual citizens convicted of terrorism offences.

Deepak Obhrai, who was re-elected Monday in Calgary Forest Lawn as the Harper government went down to defeat, also said he believes Bill C-24 contributed to the loss of fellow Tory Devinder Shory in the neighbouring riding of Calgary Skyview.

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“I did oppose Bill C-24 so it never became an issue in my riding. I am one of the very few. Now I can say it,” Obhrai said in an interview this week.

Obhrai, who was first elected as a Reform MP in 1997, said he was “taken to task” for his position within the Conservative government, “but that’s all right, that’s part and parcel of (politics).”

“My immediate concern was on human rights issues. I do not believe any government has a right to take citizenship away,” said Obhrai, who abstained from voting on the third reading of the bill. “Anything that needs to be addressed for a crime should be applying equally to all Canadians.”