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The Ministry of Home Affairs has handed over citizenship certificates to 14 people under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The CAA was passed by the Parliament in 2019, but the rules were notified in March this year.
The CAA allows Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, who were persecuted on religious grounds and entered India by December 31, 2014, to apply for Indian citizenship.
The applications are processed by District Level Committees (DLCs) and then forwarded to State Level Empowered Committees (SLECs). The SLECs then decide whether to grant citizenship to the applicants.
The Opposition has criticized the CAA, claiming that it discriminates against Muslims. However, the government has defended the law, saying that it is not aimed at taking away the citizenship of any Indian citizen.
The CAA has been a controversial law since its inception. Several opposition-ruled states have said that they will not implement the law. However, the central government has said that the law will be implemented across the country.
The CAA is a complex law with far-reaching implications. It is likely to be challenged in court and could potentially have a significant impact on the political landscape of India.
Source: Centre hands over first set of citizenship documents under CAA