The government has reaffirmed that the recently implemented Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) does not restrict the freedom and opportunities of Indian Muslims. In response to criticism from the opposition, the government emphasized that Indian Muslims are not barred from seeking citizenship, and Muslims from any part of the world can apply for Indian citizenship under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, which deals with citizenship by naturalization.
The rules for the CAA were notified on Monday, reducing the qualification period for citizenship application from 11 to 5 years for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. The Ministry of Home Affairs, led by Amit Shah, clarified that the CAA does not prevent any persecuted Muslim from applying for Indian citizenship under existing laws.
The government assured that the CAA does not impact the citizenship of Indian Muslims and that they have equal rights like their Hindu counterparts. The ministry sought to allay fears among some Muslims by emphasizing that no Indian citizen would be asked to produce any document to prove citizenship.
Protests have erupted in various parts of the country against the implementation of the CAA, with concerns that it could be used to declare individuals illegal immigrants. The government denied these concerns, stating that the law aims to help minorities facing persecution in Muslim-majority nations.
The ministry emphasized that the CAA is not against Muslim minorities and does not deal with the deportation of illegal immigrants. It argued that the law is necessary to customize the citizenship system and control illegal migration.
The government highlighted the humanitarian perspective in providing citizenship to refugees who faced religious persecution in their countries. The CAA, implemented four years after its passage, was delayed due to the pandemic, according to the ruling BJP.