Citizenship Amendment Act Comes into Effect, from 10 Jan Says Home Ministry
At least three opposition ruled states – West Bengal, Punjab and Kerala- have said that they will not implement the new citizenship law.
By: – Syed Ali Taher Abedi
The Indian Government is seems to be quite firm in implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which came into on January 10.
The Act (CAA) which has led to weeks of protests by thousands of citizens and students across India, the center issued a Gazette notification on Friday night announcing that the provisions of citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) came into effect on January 10.
The Bill seeks to add the proviso to the definition of “illegal migrant” under section 2 of the Citizenship Act. The proposed proviso states thus:
“Provided the persons belonging to minority communities, namely, Hindu, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jain, Parsis and Christian from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Who have been exempted by the central government by or under clause (c) of sub (2) of section 3 of the passport (Entry into India)Act, 1920 or from the application of the provisions of the Foreigners Act,1946 or any order made thereunder, shall not be treated as illegal migrants for the purposes of that Act,”
This will give a sigh of relief to the Hindus,Sikhs,Buddhists,Jains,Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan will not be treated as illegal migrants under the Act. Another change is that the Bill seeks to reduce the number of years required for citizenship by naturalization for the above mentioned communities. The earlier requisite period of residence in India for eleven years will be cut down to five years.
The Amendment was strongly opposed by the people, students and opposition parties nationwide.
Many people as well as politicians had filed petitions in the Supreme Court challenging its validity. A petition has also been filed in support of the Amendment, and calling on the Supreme Court to act against those spreading misinformation about the legislation.
The Apex Court is due to hear the matter later this month. On January 22
[Read the Notification]
