Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led far-right Hindu nationalist BJP government Monday announced rules to implement the “anti-Muslim” Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019.
Passed in 2019 by BJP’s government, the controversial law allows Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from India’s neighbouring countries.
Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who fled to Hindu-majority India from mainly Muslim countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before December 31, 2014, are eligible for Indian citizenship under the law.
The move comes just weeks before PM Modi seeks a rare third term for his Hindu nationalist government.
It was an integral part of BJP’s 2019 [election] manifesto. This will pave [the] way for the persecuted to find citizenship in India,” a government representative said.
The government denies accusations that it is anti-Muslim and has defended the law, saying it is needed to help minorities facing persecution in Muslim-majority nations.
