The federal government on Monday night issued a notification for the contentious Citizenship Modification Act, or CAA, which comes into impact immediately weeks earlier than the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
The CAA was cleared by Parliament in December 2019 amid protests by activists and opposition politicians.
Now that the notification has been issued, the central authorities can grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants – from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan – who got here to India as a result of spiritual persecution earlier than December 31, 2014.
A spokesperson for the Residence Ministry mentioned eligible people may submit functions in “a very on-line mode”. No different documentation can be sought from the candidates, one official mentioned.
The functions can be submitted in a very on-line mode for which an internet portal has been offered. (2/2)@HMOIndia@PIB_India@DDNewslive@airnewsalerts
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Residence Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 11, 2024
Implementation of the CAA was a significant marketing campaign platform for the BJP earlier than the 2019 election.
And this notification comes lower than a month after Residence Minister Amit Shah referred to as the CAA “an act of the nation” and mentioned, “it should undoubtedly be notified. CAA will come into impact earlier than the election…”
The Residence Minister – who led the federal government’s cost on this subject in each homes of Parliament – additionally performed down fears the CAA, and the NRC, or Nationwide Register of Residents, can be used to focus on Muslims.
He accused Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee – who has lengthy been one of many CAA’s fiercest and most vocal critics – of intentionally deceptive the individuals of her state on this subject. Bengal – with 42 Lok Sabha seats – is shaping to be a key battleground for the BJP because it bids to succeed in its goal of 370.
In the meantime, Ms Banerjee hit out virtually instantly, telling reporters at a hastily-convened press convention that her authorities would steadfastly oppose “something that discriminates (in opposition to) individuals”.
“If there may be any discrimination, we can’t settle for it. Be it faith, caste, or linguistic. They will not be capable to give citizenship to anybody in two days. That is simply lollipop and show-off,” she declared.
“After a number of extensions in 4 years, its implementation two to 3 days earlier than the election announcement exhibits that it’s being finished for political causes,” she slammed the BJP.
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The Trinamool boss additionally identified the CAA, the NRC, and the NPR, or Nationwide Inhabitants Register, have been delicate subjects in Bengal and the northeast, and that she doesn’t need unrest earlier than the election.
Considerably, components of the northeast have been exempted from the CAA.
She additionally accused the BJP of raking up the CAA problem with a watch on votes. “With elections approaching, BJP has once more raked up CAA to reap political advantages. However so long as I’m alive, I cannot enable it…”.
Within the northeast – which noticed violent clashes between anti-CAA protesters and the police – the Assam College students Union, which led protests within the state 4 years in the past, has sounded the decision for an additional agitation.
Ms Banerjee is not the one opposition politician to combat in opposition to the CAA.
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The Bengal chief’s Tamil Nadu counterpart, MK Stalin, was equally emphatic. Accusing the BJP authorities of going “in opposition to communal concord”, the DMK boss too vowed he wouldn’t implement the regulation.
Different states – like Kerala and Punjab – and others then dominated by the Congress (and now by the BJP) – resembling Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh – additionally opposed the CAA and handed resolutions. The truth is, the Bengal and Kerala governments additionally stopped all NPR, or Nationwide Inhabitants Register, and NRC work.
In Telangana, the then-ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi of ex-Chief Minister Ok Chandrashekar Rao additionally handed resolutions in opposition to all three and urged the federal government to “take away all references to any faith, or to any overseas nation” in view of fears expressed by lakhs throughout the nation.
The Madhya Pradesh authorities – then additionally dominated by the Congress – additionally handed a decision, and, considerably, a number of BJP leaders and lawmakers from the state additionally criticised the regulation.
The federal government has mentioned the Citizenship Modification Act will assist minorities from Muslim-dominated international locations get citizenship in the event that they fled as a result of spiritual persecution. Nevertheless, critics say it discriminates in opposition to Muslims and violates the Structure.
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