On March 11, Monday, Just before the Lol Sabha elections, CAA was applied in India, which has further paved the way for granting citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who are happy about this decision.
The CAA came into effect across the country. The people of the Matua community of Thakurbari in Thakurnagar were happy after hearing about the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Virtually festive mood is there. The people of the area came out with a bang. They all raised slogans, ‘This is the real Independence Day.
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. (1/2)
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 11, 2024
Incidentally, the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed on January 12, 2019. The bill was passed by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. But not implemented. After that, many tensions started. Finally, after 5 long years on March 11, 2024, the law came into effect.
Now the question is,
What is CAA?
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) aims to protect individuals who have sought refuge in India due to religious persecution. It offers them a shield against illegal migration proceedings. To be eligible for citizenship, applicants must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014. Currently, Indian citizenship is granted to those born in India or who have lived in the country for at least 11 years. The proposed amendment also includes a provision for the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration if the OCI cardholder violates any provision of the Citizenship Act or any other applicable law.
Who does CAA leave out?
The argument since 2019 with the leading opposition parties has been that the law is discriminatory as it targets Muslims, who make up around 15% of the country’s population. The government explains that since Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh are Islamic republics with a Muslim majority, Muslims cannot be considered persecuted minorities. However, they ensure that applications from other communities will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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