After four years since its passage in 2019, the Indian Government finally put the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) into effect on Monday. The objective of this law is to provide Indian citizenship to individuals who sought refuge in India due to religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.
Background:
The CAA has been a subject of controversy since its inception, with supporters seeing it as a humanitarian gesture to provide shelter to persecuted minorities, while critics argue it could exacerbate religious tensions and was timed strategically before elections.
History:
The CAA builds upon India’s tradition of offering refuge to those facing persecution, a commitment highlighted by the ruling party, BJP, in their 2019 manifesto. This law specifically targets minorities from neighboring countries.
Recent Update:
The government has clarified that the implementation of CAA aims to address key issues such as legal barriers to rehabilitation and citizenship for refugees. They emphasize that the law does not affect the citizenship of any Indian citizen, regardless of religion.
Comparison with Citizen Law,1955:
| Aspect | Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 | Citizenship Laws, 1955 |
| Targeted Group | Refugees facing religious persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. | General provisions for acquiring citizenship, not specific to refugees facing religious persecution. |
| Geographic Focus | Neighboring countries: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan. | No specific geographic focus; citizenship provisions apply universally. |
| Timeframe for Eligibility | Refugees who entered India before December 31, 2014. | No specific timeframe mentioned; eligibility criteria may vary. |
| Religious Criteria | Provides citizenship to refugees from specified countries belonging to certain religious minorities (e.g., Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Christians, Parsis). | No religious criteria; citizenship provisions apply regardless of religion. |
| Purpose | Aimed at providing refuge and citizenship to persecuted minorities. | Aimed at providing citizenship based on general eligibility criteria. |
| Controversy | Controversial due to religious discrimination concerns and potential polarization effects. | Generally less controversial, although debates may arise over specific provisions. |
| Manifesto Commitment | BJP manifesto pledged to enact CAA to protect persecuted religious minorities. | No specific manifesto commitment regarding citizenship provisions for refugees. |
| Delay in Implementation | Implementation delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. | No significant delays mentioned in previous citizenship law implementations. |
The implementation of CAA, though delayed due to the pandemic, reflects the government’s commitment to its manifesto promises. However, its impact on social cohesion and political dynamics, particularly in states like West Bengal and Assam, remains uncertain and subject to ongoing debate.
Source- NDTV
Also Read- CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT, 2019
