India Union Home Ministry likely to notify CAA Rules today

Defense News ,India :-  The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is expected to announce the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 today. These rules, introduced by the government, aim to give Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants who faced persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and came to India before December 31, 2014. This includes Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians.

After the CAA was passed in December 2019, there were protests across the country. Sources suggest that the regulations for the CAA could be revealed today, allowing eligible people to apply for Indian citizenship.

The implementation of the CAA has been delayed for over four years, and now its associated rules need to be formulated. An official mentioned that the rules are ready, and there is an online portal for the entire digital process. Applicants will only need to disclose the year of their entry into India without requiring additional documents.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the CAA cannot be stopped and accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misleading the public. The BJP, led by Amit Shah, has been committed to implementing the CAA, while the TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, has been opposing it.

As per parliamentary procedures, the guidelines for any legislation should have been formulated within six months of receiving the presidential assent. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs has been seeking extensions to continue the process of framing rules associated with the CAA.

Over the past two years, district magistrates and home secretaries in nine states have been authorized to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities arriving from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan under the Citizenship Act of 1955. Between April 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, 1,414 individuals from non-Muslim minority communities were granted Indian citizenship through registration or naturalization.

Under the Citizenship Act of 1955, Indian citizenship is granted to non-Muslim minorities in nine states. Notably, authorities in Assam and West Bengal have not been given these citizenship-granting authorities so far.