All About CAA: Exemptions and Muslim Citizenship Concerns Explained !!

The Central Government has issued the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 i.e. CAA on Monday (11 March). Now this law has been implemented across the country. CAA has paved the way for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to get Indian citizenship. Parliament approved the CAA on 11 December 2019. It came into effect after about 4 years.

Let us know the answers to all your questions related to CAA:

What changed in the 1955 law?

The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 (CAA) was introduced in 2016. In this, some changes had to be made in the 1955 law. These changes were to give citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from India’s three Muslim neighboring countries Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. After changes in the 1955 law, it was sent to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 12 August 2016. The committee submitted the report on 7 January 2019.

Bill passed by Parliament in 2019

After this, this report was considered. Then after necessary amendments, Home Minister Amit Shah presented this bill in the Lok Sabha on 9 December 2019. On December 11, 2019, 125 votes were cast in favor of the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 (CAB) and 99 against it in the Rajya Sabha. It got the approval of the President on 12 December 2019. But it could not be implemented amid huge opposition.

What apprehensions did people have about CAA?

CAA was seen as a way to create NRC i.e., the National Citizenship Register in the country. People feared that a large number of people would be thrown out by branding them as foreign infiltrators. Fears were expressed in the neighboring country Bangladesh that with the implementation of NRC after CAA, a large number of Bangladeshi refugees would return to it.

CAA was implemented in the country, the opposition called it a distraction from other issues including ‘electoral bonds’.

What is worrying about this law for Muslims living in India?

Indian Muslims do not need to worry about CAA, because there is no provision in this law to affect their citizenship. The citizenship law currently has nothing to do with the 18 crore Indian Muslims (who have the same rights as their counterpart Hindu Indian citizens). After this law, no Indian citizen will be asked to present any document to prove his citizenship.

Is there any provision to send back illegal Muslim immigrants?

India has not made any agreement with Bangladesh, Pakistan, or Afghanistan to send back illegal Muslim immigrants. This Citizenship Act is not related to the deportation of illegal immigrants. That is why the concern of a section of people including Muslims and students is unjustified.

Who will be considered illegal immigrants under CAA?

Like the Citizenship Act, of 1955, the CAA law defines an illegal migrant as a foreigner who has entered India without valid documents.

“CAA is a law to give citizenship, not to take it, Muslims of the country should not be afraid…“: Central Government

What impact will this law have on the image of Islam?

Due to the atrocities on minorities in those three Muslim countries, the image of Islam has been badly tarnished in the whole world. However, Islam, being a peaceful religion, never promotes hatred/violence/persecution on religious grounds. This law, which shows sympathy and compensation for atrocities, protects the image of Islam from being tarnished in the name of atrocities.

Is there a ban on Muslims from taking Indian citizenship?

Under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act (which deals with citizenship by naturalization), there is no bar for Muslims from anywhere in the world to obtain Indian citizenship.

In such a situation, what is the need for this amendment?

To show sympathy towards the oppressed minorities of those three countries, this Act allows them to acquire Indian citizenship for their happy and prosperous future as per the prevalent liberal culture of India. This Act was needed to bring necessary changes in the citizenship system and to control illegal immigrants.