Government Likely to Implement Citizenship Amendment Act Rules Before Upcoming Elections

The Government is on the verge of putting into effect the guidelines for the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) ahead of the looming Lok Sabha elections, sources have indicated. The potential move to notify the rules before the Election Commission of India (ECI) enforces the Model Code of Conduct has been in discussion.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated the government’s commitment to implement the CAA before the national elections. Shah emphasized that the Act does not strip anyone of their citizenship as it lacks such a provision. He clarified that the CAA aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

The implementation of the Model Code of Conduct may come as early as March. The preparations for the regulations are reported to be complete, with an online portal set to facilitate the entire process digitally. Applicants will be required to disclose their entry year into India without proper travel documentation, streamlining the application process.

An online portal has been readied by the Government specifically for the CAA procedure. The portal will enable non-Muslim migrants from select neighboring countries to register their entry details into India. Following a governmental review, citizenship status will be determined without necessitating additional documentation from the applicants.

The Citizenship Amendment Act of 2019, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s administration, seeks to grant citizenship expeditiously to oppressed non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. The Act underwent approval in Parliament but faced opposition.

Following the passage of the CAA, widespread protests erupted in various parts of the country, notably at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh and in Guwahati. The legislation led to significant unrest and clashes, resulting in casualties. However, due to pandemic-related restrictions, protests dwindled in scale.

Despite being passed over four years ago, the official implementation of the CAA has been stalled due to pending rules and procedures. The upcoming strategized move to enact the Act ahead of the elections marks a renewed effort to fulfill this promise made by the Government.