CAA: What is CAA ?Know more about Citizenship Amendment Act .

 CAA: What is CAA ?Know more about Citizenship Amendment Act .

 Citizenship Amendment Act 2019: CAA is to give citizenship to the non Muslim Minority immigrants from neighbor countries like Pakistan,Bangladesh and Afghanistan.After releasing of Notification regarding CAA rules,Modi government will now provide Indian citizenship to persecuted Non-Muslim immigrants(Hindus,Jains,Budhists,Sikhs,Paris and Christians) who come to india by December31,2014.

 The CAA passed by the Indian government in the parliament in the year 2019 and come into force on 11^th March 2024.Main objective of this bill is to provide Indian citizenship to refugees of 6 communities from hindu,Christian,sikh ,jain,Buddhist and parsi who come from Pakistan ,Bangladesh and Afghanistan.However many political parties protest against not including the muslim community in this bill.

This law faced so many protests in the country when it was passed in the parliament three years ago.Both political parties and other communities strongly  opposed it,but  the government not only clarified the situation regarding this but also gave clarity regarding this law.Let us know In details about this law and what government has to say about it.

What is the Citizenship Amendment Act?

This law does not deprive anyone of citizenship nor does it grant citizenship to anyone. It merely modifies the category of people who can apply (for citizenship). It does this by exempting them (applicants) from the definition of “illegal migrant” – “any person who belongs to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian community and is from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan , who has entered India on or before the 31st day of December, 2014 and who has been declared a foreigner by the Central Government or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passports (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or the Foreigners Act, Exemption has been granted from the application of the provisions of 1946 or under any rule or order hereunder.

 The legal framework for this exemption is found in two notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2015.

 (4) This notification exempts only those people who are Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan and if they have come to India before December 31, 2014 due to fear of religious persecution. Had entered.

What does the citizenship law do?

This law does not automatically give them citizenship, it just makes them eligible to apply for it. They will have to show that they have lived in India for five years, they will have to prove that they have come to India before December 31, 2014. It has to be proved that they have fled from their countries due to religious persecution. They speak those languages which are in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and fulfill the requirements of the Third Schedule of the Civil Code 1955. Through this they will be eligible to apply. After that it will be up to the Government of India whether it grants them citizenship or not.

What kind of visa does India issue to refugees?

Refugees who do not qualify (even without religion) will continue to be protected under India's ad-hoc refugee policy. Where long-term stay visas are issued to refugees to stay in India.

According to UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, many refugees from countries like Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Afghanistan etc. are living comfortably in India. The government says this law does not cover Muslim refugees, because our position is that refugees can and should return to their homes when conditions become safe for them.

How does India give visas to refugees?

India's usual policy was non-inclusiveness (long before this government came into existence). Some countries are exclusively constitutionally Islamic nations. The official religion there is Islam. Whereas some Muslims run away and come to India. They come here after fleeing the conditions of oppression and tyranny in their countries. It makes no sense to neutralize them from a policy perspective.

What are the problems for non-Muslim refugees?

There are constitutional problems for non-Muslims in neighboring countries. There is such a view regarding them that they are subjected to such atrocities as if they do not deserve to live there. Therefore, amnesty makes sense for non-Muslims. Whereas Muslims are treated as separate cases (as we have done for Muslims coming from countries like Syria, Afghanistan etc.

How is the government taking the Rohingya issue?

The situation in Burma is that the Rohingya actually came to India during the time of undivided India, when Britain occupied Burma. Therefore, Burma does not include them in its ethnic group and eligible citizenship. India is embroiled in this controversy. If India grants Rohingya the right to be neutered in India, it will upset our delicate dispute with Burma. Rohingya have got refugee protection and long term visa in India. But they will not be eligible for citizenship.

Is this law against Muslims?

The government's stand has been that this law is not against Muslims. Any person who is in India because he has come due to atrocities will be sent back to the same place. This should not be assumed to mean that they will ever be eligible for citizenship here. Those people whose atrocities are permanent will be given protection. Our policy of non-inclusion will continue. However, if things do not improve for refugees over the next 50 years, we will need to enhance their protection through additional ad hoc constitutional legislation. But at present this is not the policy of this government.