Time to frame CAA rules extended by Parliament
The government has been granted time till April 9 by Lok Sabha and July 9 by Rajya Sabha to frame rules under the citizenship law. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in Lok Sabha that the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) was notified on December 12, 2019, and came into force from January 10, 2020.
Foreigners to submit applications for grant of citizenship
The Committees on Subordinate Legislation, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have granted time up to April 9 and July 9 respectively to frame these rules, Rai said in a written reply. He mentioned that the foreigners covered under this CAA may submit applications for grant of Indian citizenship after appropriate rules are notified by the central government.
CAA's objective is to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities
Rules are mandatory for the implementation of any new or amended law and normally framed within six months of its enactment. CAA's objective is to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities - Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian - from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
Widespread protests were witnessed against CAA
Those from these communities who had come to India till December 31, 2014, facing religious persecution in their respective countries, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. To recall, after the CAA was passed by Parliament, widespread protests were witnessed in different parts of the country leading to the death of nearly 100 people in police firing and other violence.
Shah described the protests against CAA as 'mostly political'
Northeast Delhi riots last year were also attributed to the CAA protests which initially triggered with the clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups. A women-led protest at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh also got wide publicity. However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had described the protests as "mostly political" and asserted that no Indian will lose his or her nationality due to the legislation.
