Amit Shah pledges to enforce CAA ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Amit Shah, the Union home minister, stated on Saturday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be put into effect prior to the upcoming Lok Sabha election, emphasizing it as a measure beneficial to the nation. He underscored that the intention behind the act is to grant citizenship rather than revoke anyone’s citizenship.
Shah emphasized that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is a legitimate legislation of the country and will be implemented before the elections without ambiguity. He clarified that the CAA does not revoke anyone’s citizenship as it lacks such provisions. Instead, it aims to grant citizenship to refugees who faced persecution in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Shah voiced concerns about the provocation of minorities, particularly the Muslim community, in the country.
The BJP has emphasized the importance of fulfilling the implementation of the CAA, which was approved in Parliament on December 11, 2019, as a key focus during the Lok Sabha elections. Shah also criticized the previous Congress government for reneging on its commitment to enact the CAA nationwide.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was brought forth by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It sought to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants who fled from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan due to religious persecution, specifically Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Notably, the CAA excluded Muslims and other communities who faced similar circumstances. This led to widespread demonstrations nationwide.
Protests erupted in Assam on December 4, 2019, following the introduction of the CAA in Parliament. After the Act was passed on December 11, 2019, demonstrations spread nationwide, with some regions experiencing outbreaks of violence. Protesters condemned the CAA as discriminatory and a threat to India’s secular principles. Reports indicate casualties among protesters and incidents of police action, leading to numerous arrests.
