CAA Implemented: Modi Govt takes this step ahead of Lok Sabha polls

The Government invoked the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with majority basis polls. This Act was considered to be very crucial for the government ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

It is stated that the Modi government today notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. These rules will now enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in our nation.

With this notification PM Shri Narendra Modi has delivered on another commitment and realised the promise of the makers of our constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in those countries.

The amendment is expected to create rules and pathways for migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, specifically those belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities, to obtain citizenship in India.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has announced the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). These rules will empower those eligible under CAA-2019 to seek Indian citizenship through the application process.

Earlier, the Lok Sabha on 9th December 2019 passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 while the Rajya Sabha passed it on 11th December 2019.

Meanwhile, right after the government's notification, the Delhi Police has ramped up the security in and around the Shaheen Bagh area, which was the focus area of the anti-CAA protests last time.

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The eligible minorities for the act were stated as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis or Christians. On the contrary the law does not grant such eligibility to Muslims from these countries. The act was the first time that religion had been overtly used as a criterion for citizenship under Indian law, and it attracted global criticism.

What is the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)?

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is an act passed by the Parliament of India in December 2019. It provides a path to Indian citizenship for members of minority communities in neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, specifically Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians, who have fled religious persecution and entered India before December 31, 2014.

The act has sparked widespread debates and protests across India, with some supporting it as a humanitarian gesture and others opposing it on the grounds of religious discrimination and its potential impact on India's secular fabric.

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