Government Implements Citizenship Amendment Act Ahead Of LS Polls
NEW DELHI: The Indian government (Centre) implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, reigniting a debate that has divided the country. This comes just ahead of the anticipated announcement of Lok Sabha election dates.
Last month, Home Minister Amit Shah had promised implementation before the elections.
The CAA, passed in December 2019, offers a faster path to citizenship for undocumented migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan belonging to specific religious minorities (Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, Christian) who entered India by December 2014, claiming religious persecution in their home countries.
The Act sparked widespread protests and controversy in 2019, with major sit-ins like Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh. However, these demonstrations largely subsided due to Covid-19 restrictions.pen_spark