Refugees from three neighbour countries will be granted Indian citizenship based on their religion, says the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act 2019. Granting citizenship to six religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan is among the provisions of the new amendment act. The list of six religions notably excludes Islam.
The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 amended the Citizenship Act 1955 that lays down grounds to acquire Indian citizenship. The Narendra Modi Government justified its decision saying that the plight of six religious minorities who have come to India in the face of religious persecution in the neighbouring countries could not be ignored. The amendment is not applicable to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and in the areas covered under the Inner Line Permit. The Inner Line Permit regime is applicable in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.
The Opposition has accused the Act as a blatant attack on the secular ethos of the Indian constitution even as the Government said that there is a need to differentiate between intruders and refugees and the Citizenship Amendment Bill does not discriminate against anyone and does not snatch anyone's rights. Presenting the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Home minister Amit Shah clarified that the Amendment only covers human rights of the refugees and will not affect any section of Indian citizens including the Muslims.
Protests have erupted across the country against making religion a condition for granting citizenship. Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi and Jadavpur University in Kolkata saw students and teachers boycotting classes to highlight their disapproval of the amendments. Delhi police crackdown at Jamia campus invited sharp criticism from academics and civil society organisations from the rest of India. North Eastern states Assam and Tripura also saw violent mass mobilisations. The protesters there said they are against allowing illegal immigrants to get Indian citizenship under the amendment.
The United Nations High commission on Human Rights has expressed concern over the amended citizenship law. External Affairs Minister S. Jayashankar said that the Government of India will reach out to its friends and that India stands steadfast in its commitment to protect human rights.
The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 amended the Citizenship Act 1955 that lays down grounds to acquire Indian citizenship. The Narendra Modi Government justified its decision saying that the plight of six religious minorities who have come to India in the face of religious persecution in the neighbouring countries could not be ignored. The amendment is not applicable to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram or Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution and in the areas covered under the Inner Line Permit. The Inner Line Permit regime is applicable in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.
The Opposition has accused the Act as a blatant attack on the secular ethos of the Indian constitution even as the Government said that there is a need to differentiate between intruders and refugees and the Citizenship Amendment Bill does not discriminate against anyone and does not snatch anyone's rights. Presenting the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Home minister Amit Shah clarified that the Amendment only covers human rights of the refugees and will not affect any section of Indian citizens including the Muslims.
Protests have erupted across the country against making religion a condition for granting citizenship. Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi and Jadavpur University in Kolkata saw students and teachers boycotting classes to highlight their disapproval of the amendments. Delhi police crackdown at Jamia campus invited sharp criticism from academics and civil society organisations from the rest of India. North Eastern states Assam and Tripura also saw violent mass mobilisations. The protesters there said they are against allowing illegal immigrants to get Indian citizenship under the amendment.
The United Nations High commission on Human Rights has expressed concern over the amended citizenship law. External Affairs Minister S. Jayashankar said that the Government of India will reach out to its friends and that India stands steadfast in its commitment to protect human rights.
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