Today marks a significant milestone as the first batch of citizenship certificates was conferred upon 14 individuals under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA. This development comes nearly two months after the Centre’s notification of the Act, initiating the process of extending Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
The CAA brings forth a pivotal alteration, reducing the qualification period for citizenship application from 11 to 5 years for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from the aforementioned nations, who arrived in Bharat before December 31, 2014.
In a ceremony held in Delhi, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla personally presented the citizenship certificates to the applicants, underscoring the significant provisions of the CAA. Accompanying him were senior officials including the Secretary Posts, Director (IB), and Registrar General of India, who participated in an interactive session surrounding this historic occasion.
Enacted in December 2019, the CAA aims to extend Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, comprising Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians. Although the Act received presidential assent, the issuance of rules governing Indian citizenship under the Act was delayed for over four years, with the regulations being finally unveiled on March 11 this year. The ruling BJP, which pledged to enact the Citizenship Amendment Bill in its 2019 manifesto, attributed the delay in implementation to the global pandemic.
The recent notification of the CAA has sparked strong criticism from the Opposition. However, the Centre defended the CAA, asserting that it does not impede persecuted Muslims from seeking Indian citizenship under existing laws, thus refuting claims of religious bias.
Besides, the government has reassured citizens that the legislation is not aimed at deporting illegal immigrants but rather at providing a pathway to Indian citizenship for minorities facing persecution in Muslim-majority nations, aligning with Bharat’s longstanding tradition of hospitality and inclusivity.
The Home Affairs Ministry under the leadership of Amit Shah asserted that Indian citizens would not be required to furnish documentation to prove their citizenship. This clarification aims to allay concerns regarding the intrusive nature of the CAA while affirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of all citizens within the framework of the law.
