The Ministry of Home Affairs has officially notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) today, clearing the path for its nationwide implementation.
CAA implementation has been initiated with the Ministry of Home Affairs notifying the Citizenship Amendment Act’s (CAA) rules today, facilitating its nationwide application. The law primarily aids Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan in obtaining Indian citizenship.
The Ministry’s spokesperson announced on X that applications for citizenship will be processed entirely online.
This development follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier announcement that the law would be enacted before the Lok Sabha elections. The legislation intends to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from these countries who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.
Protests erupted across various regions of India after the law was enacted in 2019. However, Shah reiterated last month that the CAA will be implemented, emphasizing that it was a promise made by the Congress government and reassuring minorities that the law will not revoke anyone’s citizenship.
In response, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee affirmed her government’s stance against the implementation of the CAA and NRC in the state.
“We will not tolerate the CAA, NRC, or the politics of dividing Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, nor the false politics of dividing the Matua community, nor the false politics of dividing Hindus and Muslims. We reject this. They dispatched over 400 teams to Bengal. How many teams did you send to Manipur, where our sisters were burned?” she stated.
The decision to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has received praise from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who thanked Amit Shah and PM Modi for assisting minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
“The historic decision to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act for the welfare of suffering humanity has provided a dignified life for minority communities enduring religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan,” he expressed.
Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma echoed appreciation, stating, “There has been a long-standing demand. I extend my gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for aiding our brothers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan in obtaining citizenship.”
West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar took a swipe at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, highlighting Amit Shah’s commitment to implementing the CAA.
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously assured that we would present the rules and regulations of the CAA before the Lok Sabha, and we will fulfill our promises. While no objections were raised, our CM Mamata Banerjee seems restless,” he remarked.
In contrast, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh criticized the government’s delay in implementing the rules and accused the BJP of polarizing issues along religious lines.
“Why was there such a delay? If delay was necessary, why not postpone it until after the elections? Their (BJP) sole objective is to communalize every issue between Hindus and Muslims,” he remarked.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Centre for notifying the rules of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, labeling it as the BJP’s tactic to divert attention.
“When citizens are compelled to seek livelihoods elsewhere, what good does bringing a ‘citizenship law’ for others do? The public has now understood the BJP’s political distractions,” Yadav expressed.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), stating it fosters communal division. He affirmed that it will not be enforced in Kerala.
“The government has consistently stated that the Citizenship Amendment Act, which discriminates against Muslim minorities, will not be implemented in Kerala. This is our stance. Kerala stands united in opposing this divisive law,” he asserted.
With inputs from ANI, PTI
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