In a significant milestone, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the issuance of the first set of citizenship certificates under the new Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) Rules, 2024. On Wednesday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over these certificates to 14 applicants in New Delhi, marking a crucial step in implementing the long-awaited amendment.
The new CAA rules, notified on March 11, 2024, allow the granting of Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. This includes Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians. The Empowered Committee, Delhi, led by the Director of Census Operations, scrutinized the applications and granted citizenship to the selected individuals.
The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that while these 14 certificates were physically handed over, many more digitally signed certificates are being issued via email. During the ceremony, Home Secretary Bhalla congratulated the recipients and highlighted the key features of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
Among the recipients was Bharat, who expressed immense gratitude, saying, “I feel like I got a new life. I want to thank PM Modi… I came from Pakistan and never went to school there. I studied a little bit after coming here.” Another recipient, Yashoda, who has been in India since 2013, shared her relief, stating, “Now that I have received citizenship, the situation will be better… I’m grateful to PM Modi and India.”
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, enacted in December 2019, faced significant protests and criticism, especially from Muslim groups who feared marginalization. However, political leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, have assured that the law aims to protect persecuted minorities without causing inconvenience to others.
This development marks a pivotal moment in India’s efforts to offer refuge and rights to those facing religious persecution in neighboring countries.
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