Sources Confirm Impending Notification for Enforcement of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
Once implemented, the law will confer Indian citizenship upon non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before 2015. An unnamed official confirmed to news agency ANI that the necessary regulations are finalized, with an online portal established to facilitate applications. Applicants can disclose their year of entry without requiring travel documents, simplifying the process.
The impending notification comes amid previous assurances from Home Minister Amit Shah that the CAA would be implemented before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April/May. Shah reiterated the government's commitment to enact the law, dismissing concerns over its potential combination with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to target minority communities.
Addressing fears surrounding the CAA, Shah emphasized its humanitarian objective, aimed at providing citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries. He denounced misinformation campaigns aimed at stoking opposition, asserting that the law seeks to alleviate the plight of those facing religious persecution.
Implementation of the CAA has been a cornerstone of the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral promises, particularly in states like West Bengal, where it is engaged in a heated political battle with the Trinamool Congress. However, opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have vehemently opposed the law, denouncing it as a divisive political tool.
In a show of dissent against the impending implementation of the CAA, the Dibrugarh district committee of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) recently organized a 12-hour hunger strike in collaboration with 30 other organizations. This collective action reflects the ongoing resistance against the CAA, underscoring the deep-seated divisions and controversies surrounding the contentious legislation.
