#TGLIFE
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 has triggered widespread protests across India leading to to street protests and violence over fears of non-Muslim illegal immigrants being naturalized under these provisions, thus impacting the local culture and society.
As of a week ago, the protests had resulted in more than a thousand arrests and six deaths and the suspension of civil liberties and communication facilities by the police in response.
How citizenship was earlier acquired in India
In India, citizenship is regulated by the Citizenship Act, 1955. The Act specifies that citizenship may be acquired in India through five methods “ by birth in India, by descent, through registration, by naturalisation (extended residence in India), and by incorporation of territory into India.
How CAA changes criteria for determining citizenship
The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 allows for a specified class of illegal migrants from certain countries to not be treated as illegal migrants, making them eligible for citizenship.
It thus allows illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and who entered India on or before 31 December, 2014 eligible for citizenship.
Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are not offered citizenship under the new Act with critics questioning the exclusion.
Centre’s logic behind the bill
The central government says minority groups that have escaped persecution in Muslim-majority nations are welcome.
However, the logic is not consistent “ the bill does not protect all religious minorities, nor does it apply to all neighbours.
The Ahmedia Muslim sect and even Shias face discrimination in Pakistan. Rohingya Muslims and Hindus face persecution in neighbouring Burma, and Hindu and Christian Tamils in neighbouring Sri Lanka. These have not been offered protection.
Opposition’s argument
Opponents say the CAB ringfences Muslim identity by declaring India a welcome refuge to all other religious communities. It seeks to legally establish Muslims as second-class citizens of India by providing preferential treatment to other groups.
This violates the Constitution’s Article 14, the fundamental right to equality to all persons and is part of an effort to tear at the fabric of India’s secular identity.
