Delhi: CAA implemented across the country, Modi government issued notification

New Delhi:  Narendra Modi government at the Center has issued a notification regarding the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 (CAA) in the country from Monday. Under this, minorities from three neighboring countries will now be able to get citizenship of the country. For this, one will have to apply on the online portal prepared by the Central Government. This is being considered a big step of the Central Government before the Lok Sabha elections.

The rules aim to make it easier for undocumented immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who are not Muslims to obtain citizenship. The Modi government will start providing Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants from these countries – Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians – who came to India till 31 December 2014.The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was approved by the President in December 2019, however, it faced widespread protests in various regions of the country. More than a hundred people lost their lives during anti-CAA protests or police action. The law could not be implemented as the rules had not been notified yet.

According to the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure, rules for any law must be framed within six months of the President’s assent or the government will have to seek extension from the subordinate legislative committees in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Since 2020, the Home Ministry has been taking extensions from the parliamentary committee at regular intervals to make rules. The Home Ministry has prepared a portal for the convenience of the applicants as the entire process will be online. Applicants must state the year they entered India without travel documents. No documents will be asked from the applicants, an official said.