Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Thursday that the first citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA will be issued before the last phase of the election.
The CAA, implemented by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government in March, allows citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered Bharat before December 31, 2014.
In an interview with News18, Shah stated that applications for citizenship under CAA have begun to arrive and are being scrutinized according to the rules.
Shah expressed confidence that the process of granting citizenship will commence before the conclusion of the election’s last phase. The CAA has been met with criticism from opposition leaders who argue that the notified rules are unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Shah also expressed optimism regarding the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) electoral prospects, asserting confidence in crossing the 400-seat mark in the Lok Sabha elections. He predicted that NDA would achieve this milestone by counting day on June 4, 2024, with Prime Minister Modi returning to office.
Shah cited a detailed analysis conducted by his party’s team and himself, indicating a strong performance in the initial phases of the elections.
The interview also addressed the recent arrests of prominent political figures, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Shah defended the arrests, stating that both individuals failed to appear before investigative agencies despite multiple summons.
Union Minister contended that their timely appearance could have prevented their arrest six months prior to the elections.
Shah addressed concerns over the low voter turnout witnessed in the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls. He attributed the decline in turnout to various factors, including the revision of electoral rolls after twelve years and the absence of significant opposition contest, which can impact voter participation.
The Election Commission of India recently released final voter turnout figures, indicating a drop of just under 4 percentage points for the first phase and under 3 percentage points for the second phase compared to the 2019 elections.
The statements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah shed light on key developments surrounding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, electoral prospects, and recent political controversies, providing insight into the ongoing dynamics of Bharatiya politics amidst the backdrop of the general elections.
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