Sources indicate that the rules for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) are poised to be notified nationwide on Monday, as revealed. This development follows a significant announcement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the Republic Summit 2024 on March 7. Shah affirmed that the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 would be enacted before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, emphasizing that CAA is a pivotal law for the nation’s governance.
Under the provisions of the CAA, the Modi government aims to extend Bharatiya nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, specifically Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, who arrived in Bharat before December 31, 2014. This measure seeks to provide sanctuary and relief to individuals facing religious persecution in their home countries.
In preparation for the rollout of the CAA, the entire Uttar Pradesh Police force has been placed on alert, with personnel on leave being summoned back to duty, according to sources familiar with the matter. This indicates a proactive stance by law enforcement authorities to ensure a smooth implementation process and maintain law and order during the transition.
Notably, the CAA has been a subject of contention since its passage by Parliament in December 2019, followed by presidential assent. The legislation triggered widespread protests in various parts of the country, reflecting divergent opinions and concerns regarding its implications for Bharat’s secular fabric and constitutional ethos.
Over the past two years, the Modi government has empowered more than 30 district magistrates and home secretaries across nine states with the authority to grant Bharatiya citizenship to eligible individuals belonging to the specified non-Muslim minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan under the Citizenship Act of 1955.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ annual report for 2021-22, a total of 1,414 foreigners belonging to these non-Muslim minority communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan were granted Bharatiya citizenship through registration or naturalization between April 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The nine states where Bharatiya citizenship is facilitated through registration or naturalization for non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra. This regional distribution underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the needs and aspirations of persecuted minorities across various parts of the country.
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