On Wednesday, the initial batch of citizenship certificates was issued to 14 individuals, marking a milestone nearly two months after the government notified the rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The CAA allows minorities facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to obtain Indian citizenship.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the rules notification on March 11, four years following the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, or CAA, by Parliament.
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On Wednesday, 14 individuals received their citizenship certificates after successfully processing their applications online. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla personally handed over the certificates to them.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) revises the Citizenship Act of 1955 to offer an expedited route to Indian citizenship for migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Specifically, it pertains to individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in their countries of origin.
The legislation has sparked vigorous debate and widespread protests across India.
Last month, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram stated that the CAA would be repealed during the first session of Parliament after the INDIA bloc assumes power at the Centre.
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