New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Saturday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed by the Parliament in December 2019, will be notified and implemented before the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Speaking at the ET Now-Global Business summit in the national capital, Shah emphasized that the CAA is a national law that will be enforced, addressing any confusion surrounding its implementation.
Shah highlighted that the CAA was a promise made by the Congress government, aimed at providing refuge to persecuted minorities in neighboring countries. He clarified that the act was designed to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, who faced persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014.
The Home Minister expressed concern about the alleged provocation of minorities, especially the Muslim community, stating that the CAA does not strip anyone of their citizenship. He reiterated that the primary purpose of the act is to offer citizenship to refugees who were persecuted in the mentioned countries.
Since the passage of the CAA in December 2019 and its subsequent presidential assent, the country witnessed widespread protests. Shah’s announcement comes amidst ongoing debates and discussions surrounding the act.
Shah also addressed the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, framing the election as a battle between corruption and development. He emphasized that the election is not about party affiliations but rather a choice between those advocating for a corruption-free governance and those tolerating corruption. Additionally, Shah stated that the election would focus on national security, differentiating between those prioritizing national security and those jeopardizing it in the name of foreign policy.
As the political landscape gears up for the elections, the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act is expected to remain a key point of discussion and contention among various political parties and the public.
