College students protest against CAA a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the rules for implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. (PTI Photo)CAA Rules in India Highlights (March 12): The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 does not deal with the deportation of illegal immigrants, the Ministry of Home Affairs said Tuesday. A day after notifying the rules under the CAA, the Home Ministry released an FAQ on the same. The clarification issued says that the CAA does not impact the citizenship of Indian Muslims and that ‘no Indian citizen would be asked to produce any document to prove his citizenship after this Act’. It adds that adding that “the concern of a section of the people including Muslims and students that CAA is against Muslim minorities is unjustifiable”.
Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) erupted across Assam on Tuesday, with protestors burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, PTI reported. While the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad burnt effigies in Lakhimpur, the Congress torched copies of the law in the district. The CPI(M) held a demonstration against the implementation of CAA. The state police issued notices to opposition parties to withdraw the 12-hour long ‘Sarbatamak Hartal’ called by them, warning ‘legal action’ against those who fail to follow the direction.
Meanwhile, a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the implementation of he Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024 until the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the CAA remain pending. The application, filed by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is one of the petitioners who have challenged the citizenship law, has sought the court’s direction to ensure no coercive action is taken against people belonging to the Muslim community pending adjudication of the writ petitions, a PTI report stated.
What is the Citizenship Amendment Act (2019): The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday launched a new portal http://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ for people seeking to apply for citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, officials said. The government will also launch a mobile app ‘CAA-2019’ to facilitate applications, according to the officials at the MHA. The CAA seeks to fast-track Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians — but not Muslims — who migrated to India owing to religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Back in December 2019, three Opposition-ruled states– Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal– had said they will not implement the new citizenship law. There were also protests across the country, owing to the Act’s polarising provisions.
Every Indian knows that PM's decision to implement CAA is justifiable and humane: Smriti Irani
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday said that every Indian knows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act is justifiable and humane, news agency PTI reported. "Mamata Bandopadhyay (Banerjee) will instigate some communities for vote-bank politics but every Indian knows that this decision of PM Modi is justifiable and humane," Irani added. She said that PM Modi had fulfilled the country's resolution of granting lawful citizenship to those who had come to India due to religious persecution.
CAA does not impact Indian Muslims' citizenship: MHA releases FAQ on Citizenship Amendment Act
A day after notifying the rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs Tuesday released an FAQ on the same, calling them 'myth busters' in a post on X. The clarification issued says that the CAA does not impact the citizenship of Indian Muslims and that 'no Indian citizen would be asked to produce any document to prove his citizenship after this Act'. This Act "protects Islam from being tarnished in the name of persecution," the release says. It further clarifiies that the Act does not deal with deportation of illegal immigrants, adding that "the concern of a section of the people including Muslims and students that CAA is against Muslim minorities is unjustifiable".
Tamil Nadu CM does not have authority to say he will not implement CAA: State BJP President
Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai on Tuesday said that Chief Minister M K Stalin had 'no powers' under the law to say that he will not implement the Citizenship Amendment Act, PTI reported. Though Stalin may oppose the CAA politically, he cannot take an official stand against implementing the Central law in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai said. "The extent of the Chief Minister's knowledge on Constitution provisions is a question mark," he said.
CAA not a measure aimed at voters' polarization along religious lines: BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain
BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday said that people should not be swayed by rumours pertaining to the Citizenship Amendment Act, while adding that the CAA was not a measure aimed at voters' polarisation along religious lines, news agency PTI reported. 'Nobody is going to lose his or her citizenship because of this Act. Only those who have fled Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan because of religious persecution, will get citizenship of India,' Hussain said. The former union minister, who was in Bihar's Kishanganj where Muslims are in a majority, thanked PM Modi 'for this gift to the people of Kishanganj on the first day of Ramadan'.
RAF deployed outside Jamia Millia campus after Centre notifies CAA rules
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed outside the Jamia Millia Islamia campus on Tuesday, a day after the institute witnessed protests after the notification of the rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act, PTI reported.
Congress opposed CAA due to appeasement, vote-bank politics: Home Minister Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Congress party opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 due to appeasement and vote-bank politics, PTI reported. Shah further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had honoured the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain refugees by implementing the CAA.
CAA implemented to create another ‘partition’: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti
People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday alleged that the BJP was following the Hindu Mahasabha's concept of two nation theory by implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act, news agency PTI reported. The former Jammu and Kashmir CM further said that the implementation, when the matter was pending before the Supreme Court, was carried out to divert attention from government's failures. “77 years after partition, BJP is still wedded to the concept of two nation theory of Hindu Mahasabha. To further their agenda they have thus implemented CAA to create another partition among our people," she said in a post on X.
Biju Janata Dal supports notification of CAA rules
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha on Tuesday supported the notification of rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, news agency PTI reported. The opposition parties in the state have criticised the implementation of the Act. "The BJD welcomes the CAA as it is giving citizenship to the people and not taking away anyone's rights to live in the country." Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said. However, Patnaik clarified that the BJP MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha did not support the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Anti-CAA protests in Assam: Effigies of PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah burnt
Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) erupted across Assam on Tuesday, with people protestors burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, news agency PTI reported. While the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad burnt effigies in Lakhimpur, the Congress torched copies of the law in the district. The CPI(M) held a demonstration against the implementation of CAA. Meanwhile, the police issued notices to opposition parties to withdraw the 12-hour long 'Sarbatamak Hartal' called by them, warning 'legal action' against those who fail to follow the direction.
CPI(M) Politbureau opposes notification of CAA rules
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politbureau on Tuesday opposed the notification of rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, news agency PTI reported. The party said that the Act violates the secular principle of ctizenship enshrined in the Constitution.
CAA won't be implemented in Tamil Nadu: CM Stalin
Dismissing the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 as "divisive and bereft of any use," Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said that the Tamil Nadu government will not implement the CAA in the state.
"There is not going to be any use or benefits due to the CAA, which only paves the way for creating divisions among the Indian people. The stand of the government is that this law is completely unwarranted; it is one that must be repealed." Hence, "the Tamil Nadu government will not give any opportunity in any manner to implement the CAA in Tamil Nadu," he asserted in an official release. (PTI)
Pakistan Hindu refugees in Jodhpur celebrate as govt notifies CAA rules
"This is like real Ram Rajya for us," said a Hindu migrant from Pakistan residing in Jodhpur as celebrations broke out on Monday after the Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, four years after the contentious law was passed by Parliament, news agency PTI reported.
In the settlements of Hindu migrants from Pakistan, the residents lit lamps and burst firecrackers on Monday night soon after the rules to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014, were unveiled, PTI report stated.
"We had been waiting for this for long. With this (CAA) becoming a reality, many those in line for citizenship can hope to become Indian nationals soon," said Dinesh Bheel, a Hindu migrant from Pakistan.
According to Seemant Lok Sangathan, which advocates for Pakistan migrants in India, around 35,000 migrants in Jodhpur have been waiting for citizenship. The influx of these Hindu migrants from Pakistan has increased in the past 10 years, it claimed.
The president of the Seemant Lok Sangthan Hindu Singh Sodha said, "But the CAA talks about only those migrants who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, and those who came afterwards, will be eligible for citizenship as per the old law". "This condition is injustice for about 20,000 people who came to India after this date in the past 10 years," he said. (PTI)
Kamal Haasan opposes CAA
Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan on Tuesday staunchly opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and its implementation, news agency PTI reported.
"True to its secular credentials and commitment to the Constitution of India, Makkal Needhi Maiam was the first political party in Tamil Nadu to challenge this act in the Supreme Court," Haasan told the news agency.
The move to implement CAA indicates BJP's "nefarious designs" and perhaps, is a "perfect example of the vision of India that BJP intends to create, if voted back to power," Haasan alleged in a statement quoted by PTI.
"To add insult to injury, after having been ignored and overlooked by the central government, now our Muslim brothers received this tragic news on one of their holiest of days, the first day of Ramadan," Haasan said. If CAA is meant to provide protection to the oppressed religious minorities, why not include the Sri Lankan Tamils who have faced similar hardship, the veteran actor questioned.
"It is reprehensible that the Central Government continues to ignore reality. Let us join together, to give a reality check, to the powers that be. Those who try to divide our citizens on the basis of religion, language and caste will get a reality check in the upcoming elections," Haasan added. (PTI)
No clarity in CAA rules notified by Centre, have doubts over legal validity, says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that there was no clarity in the rules of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, notified by the Centre.
“I have doubts over their legal validity,” she told the news agency PTI, calling the implementation of the Act "a game of taking away people’s rights."
'India cannot be a country of orphans': Jharkhand Guv welcomes CAA implementation
Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan on Tuesday hailed the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, stating that India cannot be a country of orphans that allows anyone to come or leave as per their wishes, PTI reported.
"India cannot be a country of orphans, that anybody can come in and get out. We have to streamline it. It (implementation of CAA) is a good mission in that direction," he told reporters, news agency PTI reported.
Radhakrishnan said illegal migration has to be stopped. "We are already 140 crore people," he said. "It has to be implemented after seeing all these demographic changes," he added. (PTI)
Govt launches new portal for people applying for citizenship under CAA
The Central government on Tuesday launched a new portal http://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ for people applying for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, officials said.
The government will also launch a mobile app ‘CAA-2019’ to facilitate applications, according to officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Goa CM Sawant thanks PM Modi for implementation of CAA
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for notifying rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and accelerating the pathway for citizenship rights.
In a post on X on Monday, hailing the PM's move, CM Sawant said, "It is a remarkable day in the history of Bharat, as the Citizenship Amendment Act rules are notified!" he said.
"I thank and congratulate Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, for notification of CAA rules, accelerating pathway to get citizenship rights to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan," he added.
Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay says CAA implementation to further 'divisive politics'
Top Tamil actor Vijay, who recently launched his political party Tamizhaga Vetrik Kazhagam, on Tuesday dubbed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act "divisive" and said it was hence unacceptable.
The popular star demanded that the DMK regime assure people that Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will not be implemented in Tamil Nadu.
In a statement posted on the party's social media handles, Vijay said that no piece of legislation like the CAA which is being implemented in pursuance of 'divisive politics' is acceptable. (PTI)
'If INDIA alliance, Cong come to power, we will withdraw the provisions of the law': Cong leader Shashi Tharoor
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, while speaking to reporters on the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, said on Tuesday that if INDIA alliance and the Congress will withdraw the provisions of the law as soon as they get elected and come to power.
"...I consider this morally and constitutionally wrong... I'm fully in support of the decision of the Indian Union Muslim League to go to the Supreme Court against this. And I must say, if the INDIA alliance and the Congress party come to power, we will withdraw this provision of the law beyond any shadow of a doubt. It's going to be in our manifesto. We will not support introducing religion into our citizenship and into our nation's life...," Tharoor said.
He questioned the inclusion of religion within the law, and said, "...Under the CAA, there would be fast-track citizenship for those who've been seeking refuge from neighbouring countries. That's a very good principle. Those who are fleeing the neighbouring countries, who fear persecution there on any grounds, should be given asylum in our country. And I would have welcomed this law. But the moment you say people of one religion are excluded, what does that mean? You are basically leaving out people who may also desire to become Indian because of persecution... What about people who have come from Pakistan who may have been born Muslim but who have rejected that country and who have been persecuted in that country?..."
'I will be the first to resign if one person who has not applied for NRC gets citizenship': Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that he will be the first to resign if one person, who has not applied for National Register of Citizens (NRC), gets citizenship, news agency PTI reported.
His comment came after protests erupted across Assam with opposition parties flaying the BJP government at the Centre for implementing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) on Monday, paving the way for granting citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
'I am a son of Assam and if a single person who has not applied for NRC gets citizenship, I will be the first to resign', the chief minister said on the sidelines of a programme at Sivasagar.
There is nothing new about the CAA as it was enacted earlier, the chief minister said, adding that 'now the time has come for application on the portal'. 'The data on the portal will speak now, and it will become clear whether the claims of those opposing the Act stand factually correct or not," Sarma said. (PTI)
Security beefed up near Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi
Heavy police force was deployed around Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia Tuesday morning while security was tightened in the national capital with paramilitary personnel conducting patrols and flag marches after the Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
A section of Jamia Millia Islamia students held a protest against CAA implementation on the campus on Monday evening. (PTI)
Police deployed outside APCC HQ in Guwahati
Police have been deployed in front of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) headquarters in Guwahati.
(Express Photo)
'This is a communal Act': AIUDYF president Jeherul Islam Badshah
Jeherul Islam Badshah, President of All India United Democratic Youth Front (AIUDYF), speaking on the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) said, "This is a communal Act. We have been opposing it from the beginning and we will continue to oppose it...Our party opposes it. Communal sentiments are being spread across the country through it," news agency ANI reported.
"This is an attempt to finish the language and culture of Assam...We oppose this as Assamese," ANI reported.
'This is not the right time': Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday, while speaking to reporters on the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), said that this was not the right time to bring in the rules.
"They brought it after a long time of more than three and a half years. They could have taken a decision earlier. Now is the time for elections, lot of communal issues may start... We want a peaceful country... This is not the right time... Also, it is not needed for this country...," he told the reporters.
'What was the need for CAA?': Congress leader Digvijaya Singh
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday, speaking to reporters on the CAA notification, said, "What is CAA? Who has to be granted citizenship - they have brought a law for that. But there was no need for it. The Centre can grant citizenship even today if someone seeks it. So, what was the need for CAA?"
'Why did it take 4 years and 3 months?': Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh
Speaking to reporters on the CAA notification, Congress general secretary and communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday, posed a question to the Centre about the timing of bringing the rules for the citizenship act, news agency ANI reported.
"It took them 4 years and 3 months to bring this rule. The Bill was passed in December 2019. The law should have been formed within 3-6 months. Modi Government sought nine extensions from the Supreme Court and took 4 years and 3 months before notifying the rules last night. These are just for polarisation - to influence the elections in West Bengal and Assam. If they were doing it honestly, why did they not bring it in 2020? They are bringing it now, one month before the elections. This is headline management...This is the strategy for social polarisation... Why are they bringing it now? Why did it take so long for PM Modi?," Ramesh told the reporters.
IAMC condemns implementation of CAA, calls it 'discriminatory'
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) Tuesday condemned and expressed serious concerns over the announcement by India to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which it called "discriminatory".
“The law is a flagrant manifestation of discriminatory intent, designed with the explicit purpose of discriminating, dispossessing, and disenfranchising Indian Muslims. Its insidious aim becomes glaringly apparent when considered alongside the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens,” said Mohammed Jawad, IAMC president. (PTI)
'True act of democracy': African-American singer Mary Millben
Popular African-American singer Mary Millben on Tuesday called the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) a "true act of democracy."
“As a Christian, woman of faith, and global advocate for religious freedom, I applaud the Modi-led government announcing today the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act now granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan,” Millben wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The popular singer thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Indian government for their "compassionate leadership and most importantly for upholding religious freedom" in welcoming those persecuted. (PTI)
'Big win for human rights for the persecuted religious minorities': Indian American groups
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was notified in India on Monday, was long overdue and mirrors the Lautenberg Amendment for religious refugees in the United States, Hindu American groups said, news agency PTI reported.
This is a big win for human rights for the persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, said Pushpita Prasad of Coalition of Hindus of North America, according to the report.
“India's Citizenship Amendment Act is long overdue and necessary. It protects some of the most vulnerable refugees in India, granting them the human rights they were denied in their home country, and the clear and expedited path to citizenship needed for them to begin rebuilding their lives,” said Hindu American Foundation (HAF) executive director Suhag Shukla. HAF in a statement said that CAA does not alter the rights of any Indian citizen nor does it establish any religious test for general immigration or exclude Muslims from immigrating to India, as is sometimes wrongly said and reported, PTI stated. (PTI)
Security tightened, flag marches conducted in northeast Delhi after CAA implementation
Hours after the Ministry of Home Affairs notified the rules for implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, security was tightened in the national capital on Monday.
Police said a team, led by DCP (East) Apoorva Gupta, is patrolling 24×7 in parts of East Delhi. DCP (Northeast) Joy Tirkey said flag marches will be carried out in Northeast Delhi for the next few days, starting Monday. “… Social media posts are also being monitored in real-time,” he said.
Meanwhile, a small protest was held at Jamia Millia Islamia. Read more here.
No passport, no visa: Rules eased for seeking citizenship under CAA
A Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 31, 2014, can now seek Indian citizenship without producing a valid passport of these countries or a valid visa from India, according to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, (CAA) rules notified on Monday.
The rules, which pave the way for implementation of the CAA, state that “any document” that shows one of the parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents of the applicant was from one of these countries would suffice to prove their nationality.
And instead of a visa, even a certificate issued by an elected member of a local body would be enough. Read more about the CAA rules here.
Guwahati police issues legal notice to protestors calling for 'Sarbatmak Hartal' today
Guwahati Police on Monday issued a legal notice to the protestors who will be participating in the 'Sarbatmak Hartal' in Assam on Tuesday against the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
"Any damage to public/ private property including Railway and National Highway properties or injury to any citizen caused due to 'Sarbatmak Hartal', legal action under appropriate provisions of law including Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 will be initiated against you and the total cost of damage to public and private properties will be recovered from you and your Organization," the notice stated.
‘BJP’s desperate attempt at divisive politics’, says Cong President Kharge after Centre notifies citizenship act
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday took to X (formerly Twitter) to call the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rules as “BJP’s desperate attempt at divisive politics.”
He met Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) president Sjt. Lurinjyoti Gogoi, during which it was highlighted that the CAA is “discriminatory in nature and goes against the basic principles and spirit of the Indian Constitution.”
'My position on CAA remains the same': Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Debbarma, who had organised protests against the act in 2019
TIPRA Motha founder and royal scion-turned-politician Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, who had earlier organized vehement protests against the CAA, said, “My position remains the same on CAA. We believe that until the entire law is made public, we shall not know what protection was given to tribals of NE under it. That’s all the more reason 125th amendment should be passed in NE so that the people can feel protected because we share a large boundary with Bangladesh”.
He also said that his case seeking execution of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Tripura is still being heard at the apex court and his opposition to the CAA would continue.
Tripura opposition parties call CAA notification 'attempt to divert public attention from electoral bonds'
Hours after the central government today issued notification for implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Tripura opposition CPIM today lashed out at the BJP-led National Democratic Government (NDA) saying that the decision was taken to reap undue political benefits by polarizing voters on religious line ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, CPIM state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said, “We are always against the CAA, either before or after Lok Sabha. It is not commensurate to the spirit of the Indian constitution. According to the Constitution, people can't be divided in the line of religion. It was enacted on religious lines to isolate a particular religion. The intention of issuing the notification, as even laymen understand, was to consolidate their committed religious vote bank, through communal polarization.
Chaudhury also said that he feels that despite the notification, CAA would not be implemented anywhere, now that elections are knocking on the door, to be held in next 2-3 months. “It was notified now to earn the mileage of Hindu people and migrants. It is another ugly game to gain electoral mileage. They are morally and politically very low. Their only gain is vote. CAA and NRC will polarize equally and they want to getting political and electoral gains. We condemn this announcement at this moment”.
The CPIM leader also said that there is no scope of resorting to a separate agitation for the CAA and so, the communist party would raise the issue during the party’s campaign on the eve of the Lok Sabha elections. “It is with the vested interests of getting poll mileage,” Chaudhury said, adding that BJP’s ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’ is a “hollow slogan”.
The Communist party leader also said that the move to notify CAA, days before the Parliamentary election schedule is announced, was an effort to polarize the Hindu community and said it would now be “difficult” for TIPRA Motha to clarify its stand on the subject, since it joined the BJP-IPFT government in the state despite having differences on the subject of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
State Congress president and INDIA alliance’s candidate for West Tripura Parliamentary seat, Ashish Kumar Saha, who is pitted against former CM and BJP candidate Biplab Kumar Deb, said, “The Suporeme Court has given a direction mandating SBI to submit list of names on the electoral bond issue to the ECI within 24 hours. It is clear that SBI has turned into an instrument at the hands of someone. Their plea for extension was rejected by the apex court. Some names would be revealed after the list is made public. An outburst of emotions will be there after the truth of how funds were gained through the electoral bonds is revealed. The CAA notification was made as a political instrument to divert the public attention from this fact”.
Saha also said big protests were earlier held in Tripura as well and questioned how TIPRA Motha, which earlier held the agitation, is now preparing to react on the move, now that they have recently joined BJP.
He said the grand old party is undeterred on its reservations against both CAA and NRC and said, “We oppose both of them. We want to see their stand. BJP is trying to divert the issue. We oppose it completely. We are going to take our word to the people and we not going to allow to implement the CAA”.
CAA copies burnt, ‘hartal' announced in Assam as Centre notifies rules
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and 30 indigenous organisations on Monday burnt copies of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in different parts of the state, including Guwahati, Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Dibrugarh and Tezpur.
The 16-party United Opposition Forum, Assam, (UOFA) announced a statewide hartal on Tuesday, besides taking up other agitational programmes in a phased manner.
"We will continue with our non-violent, peaceful, democratic movement against CAA. Alongside, we will also continue our legal fight", AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjya told PTI.
Bhattacharjya asserted that the indigenous people of Assam and North East will never accept CAA.
"On Tuesday, copies of the CAA will be burnt by the North East Student Organisation (NESO) in all state capitals of the region. AASU and 30 organisations will also take out torchlight processions in Assam, and launch a satyagraha from the next day," he said.
In Dibrugarh, AASU members were engaged in a scuffle with police when the latter tried to stop them from taking out a procession from their office in the Chowkidingi area of the town.
The Nalbari district unit of AASU took out a protest rally and also burnt copies of the Act in front of the local municipal board office.
Pointing out that the Sixth Scheduled areas and states with provisions for Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the North East have been exempted from CAA, Bhattacharjya said, "Our question is, something which is bad for some parts of NE, how can it be good for the other parts. In Assam too, in eight districts it will not be enforced." He also claimed that the CAA goes against the Assam Accord, which sets March 25, 1971, as the deadline for identification of illegal migrants in this northeastern state.
The AASU had been at the forefront in protesting against the CAA since the bill proposing the legislation was brought by the central government, and has already filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the Act.
Meanwhile, students have started protesting against the CAA in different parts of the state, including in front of Cotton University in Guwahati.
The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), which was formed post the anti-CAA movement in the state in 2019-20, staged protests in different parts of the state.
Its members displayed black flags and raised slogans against the government as they took out protest marches in several parts, including Guwahati.
The UOFA has called for a statewide ‘hartal' on Tuesday, its general secretary and AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi told PTI.
"We are going forward with our programme of a hartal tomorrow. We will also take up other protests, including gherao of the state secretariat, as announced earlier", he said.
Opposition political parties, student bodies and other organisations had announced intensifying protests against the CAA when the rules were notified for its implementation.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had asked those opposed to the Act to fight it out at the Supreme Court, maintaining that protests on the streets will bear no fruit as it is already a legislation passed by Parliament.
He had also warned that if political parties call for bandhs, they could lose registration as the Gauhati High Court had passed an order earlier prohibiting bandhs.
With the CAA rules being issued, the Narendra Modi-led central government will start granting Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India till December 31, 2014. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians.
The CAA was passed in December 2019 but had not come into effect as rules were not notified till now. (PTI)
CAA notification is logical conclusion: West Bengal Governor
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Monday said the notification of rules of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is a "logical conclusion" and example of "good governance in India".
The CAA paves the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Stating that the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament some years ago, he said what is happening now is its "logical conclusion" by way of notification of the rules and regulations.
"I see it as a part of the normal process of good governance in this country," the governor told reporters on the sidelines of a programme in state capital Kolkata.
(PTI)
Entire country opposes CAA, people will give answer in Lok Sabha polls, says Delhi CM Kejriwal
Reacting to the notification implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act, Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said that the entire country opposes the law, and people will give an answer to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
In a post on X, he wrote: "After ruling the country for ten years, Modi government has brought CAA before the elections. At a time when the poor and middle class are groaning due to inflation and unemployed youth are struggling from door to door for employment, instead of solving those real issues, these people have brought CAA."
He further said, "It is being said that minorities from three neighboring countries will be given citizenship in India. That means they want to bring people from neighboring countries to India and settle them. Why? To create your vote bank. When our youth do not have employment then who will provide employment to the people coming from neighboring countries? Who will build a house for them? Will BJP provide them employment? Will BJP build a house for them?"
He added, "The entire country opposes CAA. First give jobs to our children, first give houses to our people. Then bringing people from other countries to our country. Every country in the whole world stops the poor from other countries from coming to their country because it reduces the employment of the local people. BJP is probably the only party in the world which is doing this dirty politics to make the poor of neighboring countries its vote bank. This is against the country."
He ended the post saying: "People will answer this in the Lok Sabha elections."
BJP's divisive agenda turned CAA from beacon of humanity to discrimination tool: TN CM Stalin
Reacting to the notification implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M K Stalin said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government's "divisive agenda has weaponised the Citizenship Act, turning it from a beacon of humanity to a tool of discrimination based on religion and race through the enactment of CAA. By betraying Muslims and Sri Lankan Tamils, they sowed seeds of division."
He added, "Despite staunch opposition from democratic forces like DMK, the CAA was passed with the support of BJP's stooge ADMK. Fearing backlash from the people, the BJP kept the act in cold storage."
He went on to say, "Now, as elections loom, Prime Minister Modi seeks to salvage his sinking ship by cynically resurrecting Citizenship Amendment Act, exploiting religious sentiments for political gain."
He further said, "However, the people of India will never forgive the BJP for unleashing this divisive Citizenship Amendment Act and their spineless lackeys, the ADMK, who shamelessly supported it."
'If Opposition doing hue and cry over CAA, it is vote bank politics, Muslim politics': BJP MP Nishikant Dubey
Nishikant Dubey, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Jharkhand, said that if Opposition leaders were doing "hue and cry" over the Citizenship Amendment Act rules being notified, it was a clear case of "vote bank politics, Muslim politics".
"Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan are all Islamic countries... how can a Muslim from an Islamic country face atrocities on the basis of religion? The aim of this act is to give refuge to those fleeing religious persecution," he added.
Notification meant to create tension in the country: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on CAA rules being notified
Minutes after the Union Home Ministry notified Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the notification in the backdrop of the general elections was meant to create tension in the county.
In a statement, Vijayan said Kerala would stand united in opposing the act. ``The Government has repeatedly stated that the CAA, which considers Muslim minorities as second-class citizens, will not be implemented in Kerala.’’
The chief minister said Kerala’s legislative assembly was first in the country to pass a resolution against the CAA. ``The government in Kerala had declared that NPR would not be implemented in the state. The government had filed a suit in the Supreme Court pointing out the unconstitutionality in the CAA. Besides, in protest against the CAA, the state had formed a human chain from one end of Kerala to the other end. The notification shows that the Sangh Parivar’s adamant stand that the communal agenda would be implemented disregarding people’s protest and criticism,’’ said Vijayan.
He said this can only be seen as part of the Hindutva communal agenda of the Sangh Parivar. ``It is a blatant violation of the Constitution to grant citizenship to non-Muslims who immigrated to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014 and to deny citizenship to Muslims. Indian citizenship is now being defined in terms of religion. It is a challenge to humanity, the country's tradition and its people,’’ he said.
Vijayan said the Union Government has issued the notification ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. It is meant to communally divide people, foment communal tension and throw to wind the basic tenants of the Constitution. The move to divide Indian citizens into various categories should be opposed, he said.
'Appeal to all community members to maintain peace': AIMPLB maulana on CAA notification
Reacting to the Union Home Ministry passing rules for the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said "We have come to know that this notification has been issued and my appeal to all the community members is that we all should maintain peace and our legal committee will study the full notification and then any statement can be given."
Mamata on CAA: It’s a show-off before polls, we’ll strongly protest if there is any discrimination
Minutes after the Centre announced a plan to notify the Citizenship Amendment Act rules (CAA), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the Trinamool Congress will hit the streets if there is any discrimination in them. She called the move a political show-off just before the Lok Sabha polls.
“Such instigation is unwanted before the polls. We will not tolerate this and protest against this,” Banerjee said at a press conference at Nabanna. “We will protest this. I am telling you before the announcement that if something divisive is announced, we will protest that. Why is this being announced just before the vote? Why just before Ramadan starts? All people should keep their fast and Hindus should celebrate their festivals like Holi.”
Banerjee further said, “If there is any discrimination, we don’t accept it. Be it religion, caste or linguistic. They won’t be able to give citizenship to anyone in two days. This is just a lollipop and show-off. If they call them citizens only after the CAA, were they not citizens before? Why were Aadhaar cards of Matuas being cancelled before? This means they are doing something new to replace old laws. The PM was elected on the basis of the votes of these people. How can they not be citizens? If they cancel the citizenship of anyone through the CAA and the NRC, we will not be quiet. We will show strong protest. We will not accept the NRC at any cost. We will not allow the use of the CAA to put people in detention camps.”
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Modi has realised promise of Constitution makers with CAA: Amit Shah
In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (2019).
He wrote: "The Modi government today notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. These rules will now enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in our nation. With this notification PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji has delivered on another commitment and realised the promise of the makers of our constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in those countries."
In the same post, Shah shared the link of the User Guide for the CAA rules.
Why was CAA not implemented despite being passed in 2019
Despite its enactment in December 2019, the Citizenship Amendment Act could not be implemented because the rules were not notified.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which sought to fast-track the process of granting Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians—but not Muslims—who migrated to India owing to religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019, and the Rajya Sabha two days later. It received the President’s assent on December 12, 2019. Soon after the passage of the law, widespread protests broke out across the country.
The rules for implementation of the Act were never notified and the government sought repeated extensions for framing the rules.
Back in December 2019, three Opposition-ruled states– Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal– had said they will not implement the new citizenship law. There were also protests across the country, owing to the Act’s polarising provisions.
CAA rules to be notified today, a web portal has been made for applications: home ministry
The Ministry of Home Affairs said that it would notify on Monday the rules for implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which was enacted by Parliament in December 2019 and spawned protests across the country.
In a post on X, the ministry spokesperson said, “MHA will be notifying today, the Rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship. The applications will be submitted in a completely online mode for which a web portal has been provided.”