Centre Likely to Notify Citizenship Amendment Act Rules Today Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections: Sources

The Union Home Ministry is reportedly set to announce the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) today, as per sources within the ministry. The preparation for the notification comes in light of the looming Lok Sabha Elections and is a significant step towards the implementation of the CAA that was passed in 2019.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has maintained a stance on the need for the CAA rules to be put into effect before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The legislation seeks to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted migrants from specific minority communities.

Union Minister Shantanu Thakur, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representing Bongaon, expressed that the CAA is expected to be fully operational in the country within a week. This statement aligns with the government’s commitment to swift execution of the law.

The Citizenship Amendment Act targets offering Indian citizenship to individuals from six religious groups – Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians – who faced persecution in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Opposition parties including Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC) have been vocal in their resistance to the CAA. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, asserted that the act will not be permitted in the state under her tenure, asserting her strong stance against the law.

Mamata Banerjee has firmly stated that as long as she is alive, West Bengal will not witness the enforcement of the CAA. She accused the BJP of opportunism in bringing up the CAA issue ahead of the elections for their political gains.

The anticipated notification from the Union Home Ministry regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act rules indicates a crucial development in the political landscape. The implementation of the CAA has been a topic of contention, drawing varied reactions and responses from different stakeholders.

Established media outlets like Living Media India Limited and Syndications Today have been actively covering the progress around the Citizenship Amendment Act, shedding light on the latest updates and implications of the upcoming rule notification.