Centre notifies CAA rules ahead of Lok Sabha elections

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that the legislation is aimed at giving a dignified life to these people who had suffered religious persecution for decades.

The Union Home Ministry notified the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules on March 11.

The rules were notified before the Model Code of Conduct comes into force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.  The legislation was cleared by Parliament four years ago. Union Minister Amit Shah said in February this year that the CAA would be implemented before the Lok Sabha elections.

The CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees who faced persecution on grounds of their religion in three neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians. The legislation, however, excludes Muslims.

Shah had said in Rajya Sabha that the legislation is aimed at giving a dignified life to these people who suffered religious persecution for decades by granting Indian Citizenship to them if they fulfil the criteria for the grant of citizenship.

The legislation drew criticism from the Opposition since it excludes Muslims. The Centre had defended the opposition charge by saying that since Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are Muslim-majority countries, Muslims are "unlikely to face religious persecution" there.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be notifying today, the Rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship. The… pic.twitter.com/Vp6v8wdjjx

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— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2024

Shah recently sought to play down fears the CAA. "Our Muslim brothers are being misled and instigated. CAA is only meant to give citizenship to those who came to India after facing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. It is not for snatching anyone's citizenship,” he said at a recent event. The CAA was part of the BJP's poll manifesto in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Opposition reacts

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the Centre should have notified rules six months ago. "If there are any good things, we always support and appreciate but if anything is done that is not good for the country, TMC will always raise its voice and oppose it. I know why today's date was chosen before Ramazan. I appeal to the people to be calm and avoid any rumors," she said.