A fresh look at the Citizenship Amendment Act 2024: Know all the details!!
As the 2024 general elections approach, the government has introduced new rules to implement the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019. The law is meant to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants facing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. However, some opposition parties raised concerns on 31 December 2014, saying that they believe the CAA is unfair as it particularly affects Muslims.
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Citizenship Amendment Act becomes reality
Just ahead of the upcoming 2024 general elections, the government on Monday took a step forward by announcing rules for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019. The move opens the door to granting citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan without proper documentation.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is set to provide Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants who faced persecution in the above-mentioned countries and came to India by 31 December 2014. This comes after the introduction of CAA rules. Eligible individuals include Christians, Parsis, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and Hindus, reflecting an effort to provide shelter and a new home for those in need.
What is Citizenship Amendment Act 2024?
The Citizenship Amendment Act 2024 (CAA) is designed to protect individuals seeking asylum in India from religious persecution by protecting them from prosecution for illegal migration. To qualify for citizenship, applicants must have come to India on or before December 31, 2014. Currently, Indian citizenship is generally granted to people born in the country or who have lived there for at least 11 years.
The proposed changes also underlined that if the cardholder violates any of the terms of the Citizenship Act or other relevant laws, the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration will be canceled, stressing the importance of adhering to the country’s rules. can be done.
Who or what does Citizenship Amendment Act 2024 leave out?
Since 2019, major opposition parties have raised concerns about the law, claiming that it discriminates against Muslims, who make up about 15% of the country’s population.
The government’s stance is that Muslims of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, being majority Islamic republics, are not seen as oppressed minorities. However, the government assures that applications from other communities will be carefully examined on an individual basis, and emphasis will be placed on a case-by-case approach to ensure fair consideration for all.
How can migrant Apply for citizenship?
To make things easier for applicants, the Ministry of Home Affairs has set up an online portal for the entire process. Applicants only need to state the year of arrival in India without proper documentation. The good news is that applicants will not be asked for any additional documents, simplifying the process and ensuring accessibility for all.
Opposition Uproar: Delving into the Why's and How's
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in December 2019 has triggered widespread protests across the country. Several opposition parties, including the Congress Party, have expressed their criticism of the law, terming it “discriminatory”. The Congress party is particularly concerned about the timing of the rules notification, claiming it is designed to create divisions ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal and Assam.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has accused the government of trying to divert attention following the Supreme Court’s recent comments on the electoral bond issue.
“After seeking nine extensions for the notification of the rules, the timing right before the elections is designed to polarise the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam,” he said.
The timing of notifying rules
Since 2020, the Home Ministry has been seeking regular extensions from parliamentary committees to finalize the rules of the CAA. In December 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the implementation of the CAA is unstoppable, emphasizing it as both a national law and a commitment of the BJP.
Consider the timing of the notification, as Lok Sabha elections are expected to be announced in the next day or two, after which the Model Code of Conduct may come into force.
Counting the Eligible: Understanding the Potential New Citizens
Although specific figures are not available, the Home Ministry’s annual report for 2021-22 shows that between April 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, 1,414 foreigners from non-Muslim minority communities were deported to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. I went. Indian citizenship was granted through registration or naturalization under the Citizenship Act, of 1955.
The Citizenship Act of 1955 allows non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to obtain Indian citizenship through registration or naturalization. This process is applicable in nine states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra.
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