New Delhi: Before the Lok Sabha elections, CAA i.e. Civil Reform Act 2019 has been implemented across the country. The implementation of CAA was announced by the Central Government on Monday. Due to which non-Muslim citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh like Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Jain, Buddhist etc. will easily get Indian citizenship. The implementation rules of CAA have been issued just days before the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates.
The Citizenship Act was amended in Parliament in 2019, at which time there were massive protests across the country and some people were killed. When CAA was brought, the implementation of NRC (National Register of Citizens) was discussed in Parliament. Due to which it was strongly opposed by Muslims. Apart from this, huge protests took place in Assam also. However, later the government clarified that NRC will not be implemented. And only talked about implementing CAA. However, after four years the Central Government has issued the rules of CAA. Along with this, security has also been increased in Delhi.
According to the amended law, non-Muslims from three countries living in India will be given citizenship by the end of 2014. For which the rules and procedures have been simplified. Along with the rules, the government has also announced the form to apply for citizenship. In which information has also been sought whether there is any criminal case against the applicant, whether any member of his family is living in India or not. The entire application process will be online, applicants will also have to provide information about when they came to India. Application can be made even in the absence of passport or documents. For which the period of stay in India is more than five years.
Protests against the implementation of CAA have started in Assam. The All Assam Students Union has announced that it will burn copies of the CAA across the state. The organization claims that non-Assamese citizens living in Assam will be given citizenship of the state, which will be unfair to the native citizens of the state. After the 1971 war, a large number of Hindus from Bangladesh came and settled in Assam. They will be given citizenship under CAA. Which the local citizens of Assam are opposing. Violent opposition to CAA has already taken place in Assam. In view of the current situation, security has been increased in Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Assamese activist Akhil Gogoi appealed to the citizens of Assam to start peaceful protests. However, no incident of violence or violent protest has been reported. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also opposed the CAA and claimed that it would not be implemented in the state. Therefore, there are chances of the controversy resuming regarding the CAA notification issued by the Centre.
Protest against CAA in Jamia campus, opposition including Mamata in the field
As soon as CAA was implemented, protests against it started. After Assam, slogans were raised against Delhi Police and Modi government by students of Muslim Students Federation at Jamia Millia Islamia University campus in Delhi. NSUI also protested. University VC Iqbal Hussain said that no student will be allowed to protest in or around the campus. A senior police officer told PTI that security has been increased around the Jamia campus.
Powers not yet allotted to officers in Assam, Bengal: Electricity to 9 states
According to the 2021-2022 report of the Union Home Ministry, between April 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021, 1,414 non-Muslims from these three countries have been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955. In the last two years, 30 District Magistrates and Home Secretaries of nine states have been given the power to grant citizenship. The nine states that have been given the power to grant registration-based citizenship include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra. However, due to the sensitive situation in West Bengal and Assam, the power to grant citizenship has not yet been allotted to any officer in any of the districts here.