The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been put into action by the government, five years after receiving parliamentary approval. This move comes just before the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates by the Election Commission of India.
The CAA, passed on December 11, 2019, has sparked debates and protests across the country. It aims to fast-track citizenship for minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who migrated to India. Religions that come under the provisions of the CAA are Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism.
The applicants can submit their requests online through a designated web portal.
Security near Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, has been increased after the government’s announcement. North East Delhi has witnessed tight security measures as well.
The Congress party has raised concerns about the timing of the government’s notification. Jairam Ramesh, the Communications In-charge for Congress, criticized the delay in implementing CAA rules, stating that it took over four years. He suggested that the timing, just before elections, might be an attempt to influence voters, especially in West Bengal and Assam.
Mamata Banerjee went a few steps further and strongly criticized the government, stating that she won’t allow the implementation of CAA in West Bengal.
