Citizenship Act rules ready, set to be notified before LS elections: Report

New Delhi: The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which didn’t see light of the day despite its clearance from both Houses of Parliament in 2019, is set to become a reality soon. The rules for CAA are ready and will be notified ‘much before’ Lok Sabha elections, official sources with knowhow of the matter told a news agency.

According to top sources in government, the rules are ready and online portal has also been designed for submitting applications. Applicants will also be provided with options to update their record via their mobile phones.

Notably, the Bill became law after its passage from both the Houses but the rules for its implementation were never notified as widespread protests across the country prevented the government from moving ahead on it.

The Bill for Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed by Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019 while the same was cleared by Rajya Sabha, two days later. It became law and came into force on December 12, 2019.

Notably, Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken about CAA in a recent gathering in West Bengal and dedicated government’s commitment for the implementation of the same.

“Didi (West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) often misleads our refugee brothers regarding the CAA. Let me make it clear that the CAA is the law of the land and no one can stop it. Everybody is going to get citizenship. This is our party’s commitment,” Shah told the gathering.

What is CAA?

The gamechanager Act seeks to fast track the allotment of Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries that include Bangladesh, Pakistan & Afghanistan.

Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis & Christians who came to India before December 31, 2014 will be eligible to apply for Indian citizenship under the law.

Modi government brought to a law to this effect under CAA but this got embroiled in major controversy. Massive protests ensued across the country and the Opposition slammed the law, calling it discriminatory and anti-Muslim in nature.