
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be enforced nationwide before the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Speaking at the Republic Summit in the national capital, Shah emphasized the inevitability of CAA implementation, asserting its status as the law of the nation.
The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, aims to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. Despite being passed by Parliament and receiving presidential approval in December 2019, the act has yet to be implemented, sparking widespread protests across the country.
Shah’s firm declaration follows similar statements made by him in February and echoes sentiments expressed by other members of the Modi cabinet, such as Shantanu Thakur. Thakur, reaffirming Shah’s stance, stressed the constitutional importance of the CAA and the humanitarian imperative to offer sanctuary to individuals fleeing neighboring nations.
Assuring that the CAA implementation will not affect the citizenship of existing Indian nationals, Thakur outlined plans for its prompt execution before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He pledged the imminent release of rules governing the CAA implementation process, facilitating the expedited granting of Indian nationality to eligible beneficiaries.
Thakur expressed confidence in the Home Ministry’s preparedness to swiftly execute the CAA, highlighting ongoing discussions to streamline the process and ensure its efficient completion. He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to executing the CAA without delay, underscoring its significance in providing relief to persecuted minorities seeking refuge in India.