Weeks ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the government on Monday night released a notification regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, which takes effect today. In December 2019, the Parliament approved the CAA despite protests from opposition politicians and activists.
It was the Official tweet from the ministry of home affairs that is Amit Shah’s Office
What is CAA
The Indian Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) on December 11, 2019. By offering an accelerated route to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who arrived in India by 2014, it modified the Citizenship Act, 1955. The following minorities were listed as eligible: Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Hindus.Muslims from these nations are not eligible for this under the law.
Members of persecuted religious minorities who had immigrated from neighboring countries would be granted Indian citizenship, as pledged by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in past election manifestos. The 2019 amendment allowed for accelerated citizenship for migrants who arrived in India by December 31, 2014, and who had experienced “religious persecution or fear of religious persecution” in their home country.
The Citizenship Amendment Act rules were formally announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on March 11, 2024. This comes after Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised to put them into effect prior to the national elections in 2024.
With the release of this notification, individuals who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, to flee religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Afghanistan and who identify as individuals of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Jain, or Christian communities, can now apply to the central government to become citizens.
According to a Home Ministry representative, eligible applicants could apply “in a completely online mode.” One official stated that no additional paperwork will be required from the applicants.
Need for CAA
Persecuted religious minorities in neighboring countries: The CAA seeks to give victims of religious persecution Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians a route to Indian citizenship through Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Religious discrimination and persecution against these communities have been documented in these countries.
Humanitarian concerns: A large number of the religious minorities that the CAA targets are severely persecuted in their home countries, where they are subjected to acts of violence, discrimination, and restrictions on their freedom of religion. Giving them the opportunity to seek asylum in India is in line with humanitarian ideals and India’s longstanding tradition of serving as a safe haven for marginalized groups.
Historical background: India has long struggled with the problem of refugees and illegal immigration, especially in border states like Assam and West Bengal.
Reaction of Opposition Parties and other Leftists
The opposition from date of introduction of this act is regularly targeting the Central Govt and accusing the GOI of killing democracy, religious intolerance, Neglecting the Muslim community which is also a minority according to them, a minority of over 40cr.
Pinarayi Vijayan, the chief minister of Kerala, declared that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would not be implemented in the southern state, calling it a law that divides people along religious lines. “The Citizenship Amendment Act, which regards Muslim minorities as second-class citizens, will not be implemented in Kerala, the government has stated repeatedly. That is still the case. Kerala as a whole will unite to oppose this law that divides communities,” said Vijaya.
Stalin, Tamil Nadu CM declared on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, that Tamil Nadu would not be implementing to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Minorities and Sri Lankan Tamils residing in State camps were targeted by the CAA, He stated
This is how Arvind Kejriwal, CM of New Delhi criticized the CAA via his tweet, link of his tweet is provided below
According to AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, many people will be forced to protest in the streets once more as a result of this move.
The controversial CAA was founded on the idea that Muslims should be treated as second-class citizens and is divisive. Allow anyone who is being persecuted asylum, but citizenship cannot be determined by a person’s nationality or religion. The government needs to give an explanation for why it delayed the implementation of these regulations for five years. The only purpose of CAA, along with NPR-NRC, is to target Muslims; it has no other purpose. Indians who went against CAA NPR NRC in public will be forced to oppose it once more.
