Tripura CPI-M leader Jitendra Chaudhury dismissed the Central government’s assurance that the CAA wouldn’t apply in tribal ADC areas as meaningless….reports Asian Lite News
The Communist Part of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Wednesday claimed that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would not only affect the demography of the northeastern region but also the economy, culture, employment, society, land and other resources.
Tripura CPI-M state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said that the Central government earlier said that the CAA would not be executed in the tribal autonomous district council (ADC) areas, but such declaration has no significance.
“When the CAA is implemented in a state, its negative effect is bound to create problems in demography, economy, culture, employment, society, land and all other resources both in ADC areas and non-ADC areas,” said Chaudhury, also the opposition leader of Tripura.
He said that the CPI-M, since the beginning, has been opposing the CAA and once again urged the Central government to not bring in the new law in the northeastern region.
There are ten ADCs in the four northeastern states, with Assam, Mizoram and Meghalaya having three each and Tripura has one such tribal autonomous body. Chaudhury, also a former minister and CPI-M central committee member, said that after remaining quiet for several years, the Central government hurriedly framed the rules in March to obtain the electoral mileage in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
The anti-CAA protests had first started in Assam, parts of West Bengal and other northeastern states in 2019 and continued till 2020 before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At least five persons were killed in the protests against the CAA in Assam and one in Tripura.
On March 11, the Centre notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules 2024, thus paving the way for enforcing the CAA, which seeks to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.
PM Modi said that he “unmasked” the intentions of Congress and SP, adding that they can not end CAA…reports Asian Lite news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday berated the Opposition for allegedly trying to push the country towards riots by spreading lies about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The Prime Minister said that granting Indian citizenship to refugees has already started under CAA and that although those in the INDIA bloc claim they will remove it nobody can “end the CAA.”
Addressing a rally in Azamgarh, he also alleged that the Congress had persecuted refugees for decades and that latest example of ‘Modi’s guarantee’ is the CAA.
“Granting Indian citizenship to refugees has already started under CAA… They all have been living in our country for a long, they are those people who have to suffer because of the partition of the country based on religion, PM Modi said.
“These (Congress) people climb the stairs of power taking the name of Mahatma Gandhi, but they don’t remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi had himself ensured these people (minorities living in neighbouring countries) that they can come to India whenever they want. In the last 70 years, thousands of families have taken asylum in India to safeguard their culture and religion. However, Congress never bothered to think about them because they were not Congress’ vote bank. SP, Congress and INDIA bloc are spreading lies about CAA and tried to push the country towards riots,” the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi further said that he “unmasked” the intentions of Congress and SP, adding that they can not end CAA.
“It’s Modi who has unmasked you. You are hypocrite, communal. You left this nation to burn in the communal fire for 60 years. I am saying it clearly, it’s Modi’s guarantee: ‘desh-videsh kahin se bhi, jo bhi taakat ikatthi karni hai kar lo’… You can’t end CAA. We are working of giving citizenship to those who are victims of partition, which has already started under CAA,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that the whole world is recognising the power of India’s democracy.
“I am seeing for the first time that news regarding the festival of democracy in India is all over on the front pages of newspapers in the world. This is evidence of how important India’s identity is for the world. The world is watching that the people’s blessings are with the BJP-NDA and on all our friends,” he said.
PM Modi further said that the excitement shown by people of Srinagar in the polls is proof that no one can bring back Article 370 and do politics of “vote bank.”
“Desh mein koi maai ka laal paida hua hai jo CAA hata sake? (has anyone been born in this country who can repeal the CAA?). Nobody can remove the CAA,” PM Modi said.
On Wednesday, the central government handed over the first set of citizenship certificates on Wednesday, over two months after notifying the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over citizenship certificates to some applicants.
The Home Secretary congratulated the applicants and highlighted salient features of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, as per a statement by the Union Home Ministry.
The certificates were physically handed over to 14 applicants seeking citizenship, and digitally signed certificates have been issued to many other applicants through email.
On March 11, the Union Home Ministry notified the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), days ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule.
The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government and passed by Parliament in 2019, aims to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants–including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians–who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. (ANI)
Amit Shah said that Congress wants to scrap the CAA just to appease their vote bank…reports Asian Lite News
Coming down hard on Congress leader P Chidambaram over his remarks on the Citizenship Amendment Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday that they have been fighting against Congress’ appeasement politics for years and the Congress should rise out of it and try to perform on the agenda of development.
Amit Shah said that Congress wants to scrap the CAA just to appease their vote bank.
“Since the 1960s, Congress has made appeasement politics its weapon to win elections. We had been fighting against this for years. Since 2014, PM Modi has set the development agenda among people and elections began in the country based on that. Congress is facing difficulty in contesting elections based on development; they have continuously lost elections. They want to go ahead once again based on appeasement politics. Chidambaram doesn’t say what the shortcomings of CAA are; he just says that they will scrap it. Why? Because they have to strengthen their minority vote bank,” he said.
He added further that Chidambaram’s intentions will never be fulfilled as the people have understood the Congress party well.
“BJP stands firm on its principles. We will not do injustice to anyone. We will do justice. But we will not do appeasement either. I don’t understand what objection Congress has to CAA. The CAA will not take away anyone’s citizenship; they are misleading people. They want to win elections by indulging in appeasement politics. I would like to tell Chidambaram that his intentions will never come to fruition. People have understood the Congress party well,” Shah added.
He emphasised further that CAA will remain and the three criminal laws will be implemented.
“Congress is neither going to come to power nor going to make decisions. I assure the people of the country that CAA will remain and three (criminal) laws will be implemented. Every citizen will get justice within three years; such a justice system will be ensured. Every refugee will get citizenship. There is no doubt about it. I would like to suggest that Congress leaders, who have lost elections several times, rise out of appeasement politics and try to perform on the agenda of development,” the Union Home Minister said.
Responding to the question on three new criminal laws, the Union Home Minister said that Chidambaram was a part of the committee and had given suggestions and even appreciated them.
“As far as three laws (criminal laws) are concerned, Chidambaram himself was a part of the committee. He had given positive suggestions several times and even appreciated them. The three laws will make the country’s criminal justice system the most modern in the world. Congress doesn’t want results in corruption cases. It wants justice to remain pending. But the BJP’s and Narendra Modi’s policies are clear: every citizen has the constitutional right to get justice in the least amount of time. We are dedicated to doing that,” Amit Shah said.
Earlier at a news conference in Thiruvananthipuram on April 21, P Chidambaram had said that if the INDIA bloc comes to power at the Centre, it will repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the three criminal laws brought in by the by the BJP government. (ANI)
‘People of Delhi will respond to Kejriwal’s arrest with their votes’
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi minister Atishi emphasized the people’s support for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal following his arrest. According to Atishi, the citizens of Delhi see the charges against Kejriwal as unfounded and are prepared to express their dissatisfaction at the ballot box.
At the ‘Jail ka Jawaab Vote Se’ Sankalp Sabha held at Kondli constituency of East Delhi on Monday, Delhi Atishi said, “Hundreds of people from nearby areas came and, with one voice, they all said that the false allegations leading to Arvind Kejriwal’s imprisonment would be answered with their votes, by voting for the Aam Aadmi Party.”
Atishi highlighted the bond between the people of Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal, describing him as more than just a political leader.
“The people of Delhi are deeply saddened by Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. For the people of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal is not just a Chief Minister, he is like a son, a brother, someone who has given the children of Delhi a good education, provided free bus travel for women, enabled senior citizens to undertake pilgrimages, and ensured 24-hour electricity.
“Today, the people of Delhi are standing with Arvind Kejriwal and will respond to his arrest with their votes,” he added.
Atishi’s speech was delivered as part of the election campaign in East Delhi, focusing on supporting Kuldeep Kumar’s candidacy in the Kondli constituency. The rally drew hundreds of attendees from nearby areas, who echoed Atishi’s sentiments about Kejriwal’s imprisonment and pledged to respond with their votes.
Meanwhile, on April 22 the Rouse Avenue Court declined a plea moved by Kejriwal, who Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, seeking direction to jail authorities to administer insulin and allow him to consult through video conferencing daily for 15 minutes concerning his acute diabetes and fluctuating blood sugar level.
However, the court directed the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) to constitute a medical board to examine Kejriwal’s health.
The Special Judge Kaveri Baweja while passing the order stated that directions are hereby passed qua the prayer of the applicant for the administration of insulin and also to ensure that the applicant is provided all the requisite medical treatment.
“Though it shall continue to be the primary duty of Tihar Jail authorities, who are stated to be fully equipped to take care of the health of the applicant, to ensure that all requisite medical treatment is provided to him in jail, however, in the event of any requirement for specialized consultation, the jail Authorities shall consult the Medical Board to be constituted by Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), comprising of a senior endocrinologist, diabetologist, as per the request made on April 20, already sent by DG Prisons,” said the Court.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. (ANI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan claimed that there is no also mention of the CAA in the Congress manifesto…reports Asian Lite News
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday again attacked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), asking why is he and his party silent over the issue.
“Why is Congress, especially Rahul Gandhi silent over CAA? Congress should admit that they are on the same page with Sangh Parivar over CAA,” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said while addressing a mammoth election rally in Palakkad.
He said that people and different organisations all over the world are critical of the controversial CAA but surprisingly Congress is silent on such a pressing issue.
“When we pointed out that Rahul Gandhi did not take up the CAA issue during his nationwide yatra and nor in Wayanad, they (Congress) started attacking us,” the Chief Minister said.
He said that the CAA was announced when the country was in the election mode.
“There is no also mention of the CAA in the Congress manifesto. When we asked about it, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) V. D. Satheesan said it’s there in the manifesto but despite our best efforts, we were unable to find it. Ironically, Congress-led UDF Convener said that they are not bothered about CAA,” the Chief Minister said Vijayan.
He said that his government has decided that they will not implement the CAA in the coastal state. “We have also approached the apex court against the CAA,” he said.
“When the CAA issue was raised in the parliament there were 18 MPs from Congress-led UDF. Why did they not speak against it,” the Chief Minister asked.
Congress calls for CBI probe
Three days after the Leader of Opposition, VD Satheesan demanded a CBI probe into Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-Fon), a pet project of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, K-Fon authorities on Wednesday pointed out that the project was on the verge of becoming self-sustainable after fulfilling its financial liabilities.
VD Satheesan’s outburst came at a time when the state goes to Lok Sabha polls on April 26.
The Opposition had gone hammer and tongs against CM Vijayan for failing to implement the much-hyped project even after seven years of announcing it.
The Opposition parties alleged that one company that belonged to Vijayan’s relatives was the only beneficiary as it got the contract for it.
In their statement issued on Wednesday, K-Fon authorities pointed out that even though the initial cost was pegged at Rs 1,482 crore, the project was being operated only at a cost of Rs 791.29 crore.
“The project became operational with Rs. 488.40 crore from KIIFB instead of the originally earmarked Rs. 1,061.73 crore, Rs. 217.85 crore instead of Rs. 336 crore from the State Government and Rs. 85 crore from the Central Government. This feat was achieved through cost and network optimisation. The allocation from KIIFB was strictly based on the presentation of bills of expenses actually incurred,” said the K-Fon statement.
They further pointed out that K-Fon now aims to achieve sustainable operational success through Internet leased line, leasing of dark fibre, household commercial connections and connections to government offices.
“Out of the total practical possibilities of 28,888 km, 96 per cent of the cable laying has been completed. The Network Operating Centre (NOC) at Kakkanad and the 375 points of presence (POP) that ensure uninterrupted functioning have been fully operational,” K-Fon further pointed out.
K-Fon added that they could lease 10 to 14 core surplus fibres of the 48F OPGW/ADSS fibre laid for the network.
“This provides another revenue stream to K-Fon. Around 4,300 km dark fibres have been leased to various companies in this manner. The goal is to hit the 10,000 km landmark by September 2024 fetching anticipated revenue of Rs. 50 crore,” added the statement.
The authorities also pointed out that work was underway for offering connectivity to economically-backward households.
So far, free connections with a speed of 15 mbps have been made available to 5,734 households though Kerala Vision, which has agreed to meet its promise of covering 7,000 households.
Kerala’s election buzz: CAA sparks debate among traditional rivals – Congress and CPI(M) – ahead of single-phase polling for 20 Lok Sabha seats….reports Asian Lite News
Weeks before the single-phase polling to Kerala’s 20 Lok Sabha seats, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continues to take centre stage in the election campaign of the state’s two traditional political rivals – who are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level but fierce competitors in the state.
A reason why the CAA is now one of the most discussed and debated poll issues between the ruling CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front is the state has nearly 24 per cent Muslims in its over 3.30 crore population.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took up the issue right after the CAA was passed by the Parliament in 2019, asserting that it would not be implemented in Kerala. On the last day of 2019, his government, with the support of the Congress-led opposition, got a resolution demanding the scrapping of the provision passed nearly unanimously by the Assembly, with the lone BJP legislator O. Rajagopal being the only one opposing it.
Since then, the issue was lying dormant but regained focus with the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls, and Vijayan again used it to attack the Congress.
The Chief Minister has been consistently slamming the Congress’ national leadership in general and Rahul Gandhi, who is an MP from the state, in particular over their “silence” on the CAA.
But when he claimed that the issue was also missing in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the state leadership of the Congress, including the Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan and veteran legislator Ramesh Chennithala, hit back at him, alleging that he was shedding crocodile tears and pleasing the BJP leadership by attacking Rahul Gandhi.
However, Vijayan is refusing to abandon the issue, noting in the election campaign that right from 2019 when this issue first surfaced, the Left, inside and outside the Parliament, had strongly come out against it but the Congress “played hide and seek”, showing some inclination for a joint protest, but backing out later.
His tirades intensified when the Congress manifesto came out and he pointed out that while his CPI-M’s manifesto is clear that the CAA will be repealed, the Congress is still “silent” on it.
“Just look at the Congress manifesto, there is total silence on what they will do if they come to power with regards to the CAA. Is it not clear that they are hand in glove with the BJP with regards to the CAA,” he claimed.
But the Congress is hitting back at Vijayan, with acting state Congress President M.M. Hassan accusing the Chief Minister of attacking Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi “happy” as he has grave cases against him and his family.
Hassan also said that Vijayan is “engaged in spreading lies” against Rahul Gandhi, but the truth is that the Congress leader has 18 cases in various states because he protested and spoke against the CAA.
The BJP, starting from PM Modi to the grassroots party workers, is also seeking to capitalise on the issue, accusing the two fronts of hypocrisy by being part of the INDIA bloc but fighting in Kerala.
State BJP President K. Surendran contended that times have changed and the people of Kerala have now understood that the CPI-M and Congress are two sides of the same coin and both these parties have just one agenda of garnering the Muslim votes and will go to any extent for this.
“They hug in Delhi and they fight in Kerala. This tactic will not work anymore,” he said.
Kerala Congress Rivalry Peaks in Kottayam
The electoral landscape of Kottayam, Kerala, paints a vivid picture of political manoeuvring and strategic campaigning as the Lok Sabha elections draw near. The significance of this constituency transcends mere political rivalry; it embodies a microcosm of Kerala’s socio-political dynamics, with a blend of regional identity, agrarian concerns, and national issues.
The campaign buzz in Kottayam commenced early, ignited by the announcement of the first candidate for the state. Kottayam, often considered the citadel of influential Kerala Congress parties and the hub of rubber plantations, sets the stage for a compelling electoral battle. Amidst the fervent discussions to finalize candidates, the Kerala Congress (M) asserted its presence by nominating MP Thomas Chazhikkadan for re-election under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) banner.
However, the political landscape in Kottayam is not a mere showdown between traditional rivals. It’s a multifaceted contest marked by the convergence of various political factions. Chazhikkadan’s opponent, Francis George, represents the Kerala Congress (Joseph), an ally of the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF). This electoral rivalry encapsulates the intricate alliances and realignments within Kerala’s political spectrum.
What distinguishes Kottayam’s electoral battle is the direct confrontation between factions of the Kerala Congress (M) and the Kerala Congress (J), both vying for supremacy in the region. This dynamic interplay of factions adds layers of complexity to an already intense campaign atmosphere.
Key issues reverberating through Kottayam’s political discourse range from national concerns like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to regional challenges such as declining rubber prices and agrarian distress. The rubber price issue, in particular, holds paramount importance in this constituency, reflecting the livelihood concerns of the local populace.
Amidst the electoral cacophony, candidates vie for attention by presenting their visions and promises for the constituency’s development. Chazhikkadan emphasizes his track record as an MP, citing infrastructural projects and development initiatives undertaken during his tenure. Conversely, George advocates for farmers’ rights and proposes comprehensive plans for the revival of the constituency, including agricultural reforms and infrastructural development.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also seeks to make inroads by addressing the concerns of rubber growers and projecting a development-centric agenda under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As Kottayam braces for the electoral showdown, the stakes are high, resonating not only with political ambitions but also with the legacy of prominent leaders like Oommen Chandy and K M Mani. The outcome of this election will not only shape the political landscape of Kottayam but also reverberate across Kerala’s socio-political milieu, reflecting the aspirations and concerns of its diverse electorate.
Questioning the logic of having a local priest certify whether one can be a citizen or not, the Mamata asked the central government to show the laws pertaining to it…reports Asian Lite News
On the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to campaign in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also held her political rally in the same district, and lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying that while the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) is like the head of a fish, NRC (National Register of Citizens) is its tail.
“India is the world’s largest democracy. I will take care of Bengal, as long as I am here, they will not dare to touch the people of Bengal. Before elections, they are crying CAA. Remember CAA is the head of the fish, the tail is the NRC,” Banerjee said speaking while campaigning at Coochbehar on Thursday.
Questioning the logic of having a local priest certify whether one can be a citizen or not, the Chief Minister asked the central government to show the laws pertaining to it.
“Now they are saying that even a priest can state that you are a citizen from here. Show me the law. There is a limit to lying and depriving people. How will a priest know that his parents were from Bangladesh. They will be asked to bring their (parents’) birth certificates,” Banerjee said.
The Chief Minister warned that as soon as one registers under the Citizenship Amendment Act, one will be deemed to be from Bangladesh and they will lose all basic rights.
“As soon as you submit your name for registration, you will be declared a Bangladeshi. This means you will not get the benefits under Lakhishree, Kanyashee, you will not be able to vote, you will not have citizenship rights, government rights. Think yourself whether it is good or bad,” Banerjee pointed out.
Lashing out at the BJP over the transfer of state government officials by the Election Commission, Banerjee said, “This is an election for the central government. But it seems that the one who is marrying is the priest. All agencies have been put to work. They are transferring state government officials. I want to know how many officers from your central agencies who are roaming around in the name of NIA, CBI, Income Tax have been transferred? I want to know how many of them have been punished.”
While the Trinamool Congress supremo held her rally at Cooch Behar at around noon, the Prime Minister’s rally is scheduled for later in the day.
This is the first rally of PM Modi in West Bengal after the Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule of the general elections on March 16. (ANI)
Didi indirectly accuses EC of shielding BJP’s violations
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday indirectly accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of ignoring the instances of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violation by the BJP.
Addressing an election rally at Jalpaiguri in North Bengal, the Chief Minister said, “The BJP’s ‘one nation, one political party’ policy will never be successful in a democratic country like India. The BJP and the ECI seem to be working under an understanding. That is why the BJP is not adhering to the MCC guidelines. The BJP is also resurrecting the CAA and NRC issues just before the elections.”
CM Banerjee also said that she won’t allow the implementation of NRC (National Register of Citizens) or CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) in West Bengal, as both are interrelated.
“Detention camps will follow CAA and NRC, hence I will not allow their implementation in Bengal,” the Chief Minister said.
She also refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement that he is considering legal options so that the money seized by the central agencies in different cases of money laundering in West Bengal can be returned to those who lost them.
“Nothing of that sort will happen. The money seized by the Enforcement Directorate was supposed to be distributed among the poor. But in reality, the seized money has gone to BJP’s kitty. The task of the central agencies is to seize money, which subsequently fills the BJP’s kitty,” she said.
The Chief Minister also accused the BJP and the Union government of conspiring to interfere in the personal lives of the people of the country by attempting to introduce the Uniform Civil Code.
“Once the UCC is introduced, they will even dictate who should marry whom,” the Chief Minister claimed.
Senator Cardin expressed distress over the timing of the implementation, citing the holy month of Ramadan, which could exacerbate tensions…reports Asian Lite News
An American senator, Ben Cardin, has expressed profound concern regarding the Indian government’s notification of rules for the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Cardin emphasized the significance of upholding shared values, particularly in the context of the deepening relationship between the United States and India, where the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of religion, remains paramount.
The CAA, implemented by the Indian government, aims to grant citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. However, concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the CAA on India’s Muslim community.
Senator Cardin expressed distress over the timing of the implementation, citing the holy month of Ramadan, which could exacerbate tensions. He stressed that as the partnership between the US and India evolves, it is imperative that cooperation is rooted in the shared commitment to safeguarding the rights of all individuals, regardless of their religious affiliation.
The US State Department has also voiced apprehension over the implementation of the CAA, emphasizing the importance of respecting religious freedom and ensuring equal treatment under the law for all communities, principles fundamental to democracy.
However, India has strongly rejected criticism from the US State Department, asserting that it is “misinformed and unwarranted.” Despite these tensions, the dialogue surrounding the CAA underscores the complex interplay between domestic policies, international relations, and the protection of human rights on a global scale.
Citizenship Amendment Act: Supreme Court seeks Centre’s reply on pleas seeking stay on CAA Rules 2024…reports Asian Lite News
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Centre on the applications seeking stay on the Citizen Amendment Rules 2024, brought to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked the Centre to respond within three weeks and will take up the hearing on April 9, 2024.
Even though the petitioners were persistent on stay of rules in the meantime, the bench didn’t pass any such order.
Petitioners then said that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, be asked to give an undertaking that rules will not be implemented and citizenship will not be granted till the petitions are pending before the apex court.
However, Mehta refused to make statement that Centre will not grant any citizenship in the meantime.
He said whether migrants are granted citizenship or not, none of the petitioners are affected. He clarified that the CAA doesn’t take away citizenship from anyone.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing one of the petitioners, asked what the sudden urgency was to notify the rules nearly four years after the CAA was passed.
“What’s the urgency after four years? If any process of citizenship starts and people get citizenship, it will be irreversible. So the process shouldn’t start. Once you grant citizenship, you can’t take it back,” Sibal said.
Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for migrants, said, “I am from Balochistan, I came to India because I was persecuted. If I am given citizenship, how is it affecting them?”
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for one of the petitioners, replied, “They will get the right to vote.”
Jaising said, “This court must say that citizenship granted during this period will be subject to orders of this court. We cannot go on with hope and trust jurisprudence anymore.”
To this, the CJI replied, “But the infrastructure of state-level committees, etc., is not in place.” Sibal then said that if something happens, they will approach the top court.
In it’s order, the bench said, “Let submissions be made on the stay application limited to five pages till April 2. Let respondents file a 5-page reply to the application by April 8.”
The Central government on March 11 notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 which effectively brought into force the controversial CAA of 2019.
The Rules opened implementation of CAA granting speedy citizenship to members of persecuted minority in Islamic countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
A day after the Central government issued the Rules for the CAA, Kerala-based political party Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) approached the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the implementation of Rules.
The Kerala-based political party demanded that the impugned statute and regulations be stayed, and that no coercive steps be taken against persons belonging to Muslim community who have been deprived of the benefit of this law.
Apart from IUML, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saika, and Congress MP from Assam, Abdul Khaleque, and others also filed applications seeking stay on rules.
The plea stated that rules are manifestly arbitrary and create an unfair advantage in favour of a class of persons solely on the ground of their religious identity, which is impermissible under articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution.
CAA, passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019 and getting the President’s assent the following day, met with protests all across the country. The CAA came into effect on January 10, 2020.
The law fast-tracks the process of granting citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan and took refuge in India on or before December 31, 2014.
The 2019 Act amended the Citizenship Act, 1955, which makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship if they (a) belong to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian communities, and (b) are from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan. It only applies to migrants who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. As per the amendment, certain areas in the Northeast are exempted from the provision. (ANI)
Students' Federation of India (SFI) members stage a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, at Ambedkar University in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI Photo/Jitender Gupta)
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination… writes Kamalesh Kumar
On March 11 the ministry of Home Affairs implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) across India. The CAA was passed by the Parliament on December 11, 2019, and was notified on December 12 of the same year, however the rules under this law are only now being implemented. After over four years of amending the act, the union government has recently notified the rules for the CAA, indicating its commitment to implementing the law.
It is unfortunate to see how the matter of protecting minorities from neighbouring countries has has become politicised. Before understanding the modalities and inherent justice of the CAA, it is important to understand what the act is trying to achieve and why it the ongoing national discourse surrounding it.
Refugees from Pakistan and Afghanistan stage a protest against Congress over their alleged anti-CAA remarks, near AICC headquarters in New Delhi. (ANI Photo/Amit Sharma)
The Citizenship Amendment Act aims to protect individuals who have sought refuge in India due to religious persecution. It offers them a shield against illegal migration proceedings. To be eligible for citizenship, applicants must have entered India on or before December 31, 2014. CAA provides a path to Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who migrated from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014. It specifically targets individuals who were forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion. The 39-page Rules notified in the e-gazette recently has prescribed the modalities and procedure for eligible individuals to apply for Indian citizenship. The Rules specify what documents and paperwork are required for putting forward and considering a claim of citizenship.
CAA has been a topic of intense debate and contention. The controversy around CAA revolves around its religious selectivity, potential violation of secular principles, and the broader implications for India’s social fabric. Because the CAA excludes Muslims, who form a majority in these countries, it is accused of applying selective religious criteria for fastrack citizenship. Critics argue that this religious exclusion violates the secular ethos of India and undermines the principle of equality, that the act singles out Muslims, leading to concerns about discrimination.
The United Nations, US government and several other countries have expressed concerns about the alleged discriminatory nature of the CAA. Defending the CAA against its international criticism by certain countries, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has stated that it is unfair for Western nations to criticize it when they had implemented similar immigration policies in the past. Refering to riteria followed by USA and various European countries he asked, “Show me a country in the world which says everyone in the world is welcome.”
Defence minister Rajnath Singh has strongly backed the CAA pitching that it protects the rights of migrants, reduces the number of stateless people and does not discriminate against minorities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asserted that no one can stop the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as it is the law of the land, that the government’s commitment to implement the CAA. Some state government like the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee has been opposing the CAA. Mr. Shah launched a scathing attack on Ms. Banerjee for misleading people on the issue of CAA, “At times, she tries to mislead the people, the refugees, whether CAA will be at all implemented in the country or not. I want to say this clearly that CAA is the law of the land and no one can stop its implementation. This is the commitment of our party.”
It is crucial to illuminate the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 through the constitution and human rights jurisprudence perspective. There are important humanitarian reasons why immigrants of certain religious communities from neighbouring countries should not be treated as illegal and should be given speedier access to citizenship. They have suffered persecution and require these protections. The CAA provides a legal pathway to citizenship for persecuted minorities from specific countries, aiming to address their plight and protect their rights in India.The 2019 amendment to the CAA further relaxed the residence requirement for naturalisation, reducing it from twelve years to just six years.
In the Indian Constitution, the jurisprudence on “equal protection” in Article 14 characterises this as being at best a case of “under inclusion”. To draw an analogy, if the government wants to solve a problem like malnutrition, it can take some steps without eliminating hunger entirely. Similarly, if it wants to protect migrants from religious persecution, it can do so by protecting some migrants and not all of them.
Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) supporters protest march against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in Patna. (ANI Photo)
Before criticsing CAA on the constitutional merits, it must be noted that Article 15 does not apply to non-citizens. Article 15 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. While, under Article 14, laws can rationally differentiate between people on the basis of whether they pay taxes or breach contracts, they can’t differentiate between them merely on the basis of Article 15 characteristics.
If a law is providing for affirmative action why cannot it take into account historic discrimination? The additional protection provided by provisions like Article 15 forms a key part of equality law around the world, be it through the “protected characteristics” under UK’s Equality Act, 2010 or through the USA’s constitutional safeguards for “suspect classifications”. These structures operate in areas of historic discrimination and ensure that people don’t have to suffer for inherent traits that they did not choose. Thus it is valid to ask if there can be concern about historic discrimination within the country, why can’t the concern extend to a history of persecution in another country?
To draw a reference, in the case of caste, Indian constitutional law shows that valid identification of backward castes has always been backed by evidence. This is similar to the US jurisprudence on suspect classifications – these aren’t entirely prohibited, but the government is placed under “strict scrutiny” by courts and has to show that no less discriminatory alternative is available, or that the job cannot be done in a more equal way. If evidentiary burdens tend to determine legal outcomes, then the petitions challenging the CAA’s constitutionality are no exception!
Referring to the unnecessary discourse surrounding CAA External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar believes that it is a battle of narratives and Anglosphere papers played a prominent part in it, “Take this whole scaremongering that millions of people are going to lose citizenship — you tell people, saying look this was said — one year has passed, two years have passed, where are these people? After all, we are supposed to have a cataclysm in 2020. Even citizenship, when you start reasoning people, ask them–tell me do you not have criteria of citizenship; do you not use language– some people use religion, language, education; some even use income, ethnicity.”
Sikh refugees from Pakistan stage a protest outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his remarks on CAA, in New Delhi. (ANI Photo)
According to sources, there will be over 30,000 immediate beneficiaries from the CAA once the rules are fully implemented. Critics fail to see that the CAA benefits members of some religions without actually harming anyone else. Every country including USA and in Europe have different citizenship criteria based on context and social criteria. Infact the word ‘minorities’ is not used in the CAA because if other countries change the definition of their minorities in future, India would not be able to give them citizenship based on religious persecution. The CAA does nothing to anyone’s detriment and is thus not against anyone at all.
According to MHA, the applicants will be able to get information related to CAA-2019 by calling free of cost…reports Asian Lite News
Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev on Thursday informed that the State government will challenge the Centre’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the Supreme Court, adding that it will pray to the apex court to declare the act as “anti-Constitutional”.
“Earlier, we had approached the Supreme Court, against the CAA. Our prayer was that it was against the basic structure of the Constitution. It is against the basic fundamental principles of the Constitution, and we pray to declare the CAA anti-Constitutional. Now we have decided to approach the Supreme Court again and we have a ligated advocate general to interact with our senior counsel in the Supreme Court and take proper action to approach the SC,” Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev told ANI.
Earlier today, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Wednesday that helpline numbers will be launched soon to assist applicants for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019).
According to MHA, the applicants will be able to get information related to CAA-2019 by calling free of cost.
“Helpline numbers to assist applicants for Indian citizenship under CAA -2019 will be launched soon. Applicants will be able to get information related to CAA-2019 by calling free of cost from anywhere in India. The service will be available from 8 am to 8 pm,” MHA posted on X.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and said that a law cannot be formulated in the country on the basis of religion.
“This is not a matter restricted to political parties. This is a matter for the whole nation. Do you want to make 17 crore Muslims stateless? This is against the fundamentals of the Constitution. This won’t pass even the reasonable test,” Owasi said while addressing a press conference.
Citizenship (Amendment) Act aims to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants – including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians – who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014. (ANI)
