New Delhi, February 10: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has declared the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, scheduled for May 2024. This announcement comes amidst ongoing discussions and uncertainties surrounding the Act’s implementation.
Speaking at the ET Now-Global Business summit, Shah asserted that the CAA is “an Act of the country” and will be “definitely be notified” before the elections. He emphasized that the Act aims to provide citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries and does not intend to take away anyone’s existing citizenship.
Shah addressed concerns raised by some quarters, particularly regarding the potential disenfranchisement of Muslims. He clarified that the CAA has no provision to take away anyone’s citizenship and solely focuses on offering refuge to persecuted minorities like Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians who migrated to India before December 31, 2014.
He further defended the Act by stating that it fulfills a promise made by the previous Congress government to welcome and provide citizenship to refugees facing persecution. He criticized the Congress party for “backtracking” on this promise.
The CAA’s implementation has been a contentious issue since its passage in December 2019. Widespread protests erupted across the country, with critics arguing that the Act discriminates against Muslims and violates India’s secular principles.
Shah’s announcement regarding the CAA’s implementation is likely to reignite the debate and further intensify political discourse ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections. Whether the move will garner support or further fuel opposition remains to be seen.
Also Read: CAA Implementation Unabated Despite Mamata’s Objections, Says MoS Shantanu Thakur
