India implements citizenship law

Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Rules

India introduced regulations on Monday to enforce a citizenship law from 2019. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) offers Indian citizenship to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians who fled to India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before December 31, 2014.

Following protests and violence in various parts of the country soon after the law's enactment in December 2019, the government had not formulated implementation guidelines. The rules would enable eligible individuals under CAA-2019 to apply for Indian citizenship, with applications to be submitted online through a designated web portal.

Opposition persists, arguing that the law, coupled with a proposed national register of citizens, could marginalize India's 200 million Muslims. Their illegitimate concerns include fears that Muslims lacking proper documentation in border states could have their citizenship revoked.

The government has time and again refuted this accusations, asserting the law is necessary to assist minorities facing persecution in Muslim-majority nations. It emphasizes that the law aims to grant citizenship rather than strip it away and dismisses the protests as they were solely politically motivated and lack substance.

Prime Minister Modi has since concentrated on growth, welfare economics, infrastructure development, and nationalism. However, the opposition Congress party criticized the announcement. They said this move was political motivated ahead of the elections. "The timing, right before the elections, is evidently designed to polarize the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam," said Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh.

West Bengal and Assam, with sizable Muslim populations, witnessed protests against the CAA, with some Muslims fearing potential implications on their Indian citizenship status. Furthermore, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared her state's opposition to the implementation of CAA and NRC, stating, "We will not allow CAA, nor NRC, nor the politics of dividing Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal."

In response to the announcement of the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Delhi Police intensified security measures in Shaheen Bagh and certain areas of northeast Delhi on Monday. The Northeast district police, accompanied by paramilitary forces, carried out patrolling activities in the sensitive region to ensure the maintenance of law and order.