The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2019, is set to be officially notified and implemented before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasized that the CAA is an essential step to grant citizenship rather than revoke it.
Speaking at the ET Now-Global Business Summit in Delhi, Amit Shah clarified that the CAA is not designed to strip anyone of their citizenship. Instead, it aims to provide citizenship to refugees who faced persecution in Bangladesh and Pakistan. He dispelled any confusion surrounding the act, particularly among minorities and the Muslim community.
The assurance of implementing the CAA has been a significant electoral agenda for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Lok Sabha elections. Shah also criticized the previous Congress government for backtracking on their promise to implement the CAA.
What is the Citizenship Amendment Act?
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), commonly known as the CAA, was introduced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. Its primary objective is to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians. These migrants fled from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and entered India before December 31, 2014.
Also Read – Ahmedabad: Software Engineer Cheated of Rs 20 Lakh by Impersonating Mumbai Police
