The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been officially implemented, marking a pivotal moment in India’s legislative history. This development follows weeks after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement that the law would be enacted before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has now laid down the rules, facilitating a smoother pathway for certain refugees to acquire Indian citizenship.
Understanding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
The CAA aims to simplify the citizenship process for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi refugees originating from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. This legislative measure specifically targets those who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, offering them a sanctuary and a chance to lead a dignified life in the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has taken a modern approach by introducing an online application system for citizenship under the CAA.
“Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be notifying today, the Rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship. The applications will be submitted in a completely online mode for which a web portal has been provided,”
stated the official spokesperson on the social media platform X.
The enactment of the CAA has not been without controversy. Following its passage in 2019, the country witnessed widespread protests in various regions. However, Amit Shah has remained firm on the government’s stance, emphasizing the irreversible nature of the law.
“This will be implemented before the elections…this is the law of the country, no one can stop it, this is set in stone, this is the reality,”
he declared at a recent event.
Addressing concerns among the minority communities, particularly Muslims, Shah reassured that the CAA does not threaten the citizenship of existing Indian nationals.
“The CAA is an act of the country…It will be notified before the polls. There should be no confusion around it. Minorities in our country, and especially our Muslim community, are being provoked…The CAA cannot snatch away anyone’s citizenship because there is no provision in the Act. The CAA is an act to provide citizenship to refugees who were persecuted in Bangladesh and Pakistan,”
he articulated during the ET Now-Global Business summit in Delhi.
Furthermore, Shah criticized the Congress party for its current opposition to the CAA, reminding the public of its past promises.
“CAA was a promise of the Congress government. When the country was divided and the minorities were persecuted in those countries, Congress had assured the refugees that they were welcome in India and they would be provided with Indian citizenship. Now they are backtracking,”
he pointed out.
Also Read- Amit Shah Commits: Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) Implementation Before 2024 Polls (lawchakra.in)
State-Level Opposition
Despite the central government’s push, some state leaders remain opposed to the CAA. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been vocal about her stance, asserting that her administration will not implement the CAA or the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.
“We will not allow CAA, nor NRC, nor the politics of dividing Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, nor the false politics of dividing the Matua community, nor the false politics of dividing Hindus and Muslims. We do not accept this. They sent over 400 teams to Bengal. How many teams did you send to Manipur, where our sisters were burned?”
she questioned, highlighting her concerns over the divisive nature of these measures.
The implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act marks a new chapter in India’s legislative landscape. While it aims to provide relief to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, the act continues to stir debate and opposition within the country. As India moves forward, the balance between national security, humanitarian aid, and the preservation of secular values remains a topic of national importance.
Read Below: Citizenship Amendment Act, Rules 2024.
