What is the amended Citizenship Act of India? Why so much controversy?
The Narendra Modi government after coming to power for the second term in India announced the amendment of the Citizenship Act of 1955. Then in 2019, the law was passed by the Lok Sabha, but there were many debates about its implementation. However, after all the controversies, the central government issued a notification on Monday (March 11) and implemented the law. But still many people in that country have little idea about this law. But let's know what is the amended citizenship law or CAA? And why is there so much debate about this law?
The amended Act has said to give citizenship to those who have gone to India due to religious persecution from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh till December 31, 2014.
Refugees from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from the countries mentioned in the law are to be given citizenship, but Muslims are not. So naturally Muslims are ineligible for citizenship under this Act.
Before the CAA came into effect, religion had no role to play in getting Indian citizenship. Victims of religious or ethnic violence are not only those of the said religion. Ahmadiyya in Pakistan, Hazara in Afghanistan and Rohingya in Myanmar are also victims of violence, but they will not be the beneficiaries of this law.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement shortly after the law was passed in 2019. They claim that the law discriminates against Muslims. Also, Amnesty International India has given their response on social media after issuing a notification implementing the law on Monday. They said the law was against India's constitutional values and discriminatory. By this law, it is said, discrimination on the basis of religion has been legalized. Amnesty also noted in its post that the law discriminated against Sri Lankan Tamils, immigrants from countries such as Nepal and Bhutan.
Now let's know what was said in the Citizenship Act of 1955? According to the law, one must stay in India continuously for one year to get citizenship. Apart from this, it is mandatory to stay in India for 11 years out of the last 14 years. But the amended law reduced that 11-year period to five years.
Mainly anti-Modi state governments are against the implementation of CAA. They have been opposing the implementation of this amendment since the beginning. Objections first began to rise from North-East India. They fear that if the law comes into effect, the influx of refugees will increase further in the northeastern Indian states. As a result, language and cultural issues may become more pronounced there.
Besides, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has always been in favor of the CAA repeal movement. His argument, if the central government's real goal is to give citizenship, why is there a need for a new law? Also, he objected to the exclusion of Muslims from the law.
Meanwhile, a large section of Muslims in India fear that through the amended citizenship law, citizenship will be given to minorities from neighboring countries, and after that, Muslims may be identified and their citizenship taken away.
However, the central government of the country has given a statement on Monday. According to the statement, the Home Ministry claims that no one is in danger of losing their citizenship. No Muslim (and other religions) have anything to fear because of the CAA. This act will not affect their citizenship in any way. Rather, no Indian citizen will have to produce any new document to prove his citizenship after this act.
After the law was passed in 2019, violent protests started across India. At that time more than 100 people were killed in violence in New Delhi. Besides, hundreds more were injured.
