M Alam, NEWS PRISM BUREAUÂ
NEW DELHI: India has commenced the issuance of citizenship certificates under the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), sparking criticism and legal challenges from political parties during the ongoing general elections. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla presented citizenship certificates to fourteen individuals in New Delhi, while over 300 others reportedly received certificates via email.
Although the government has not disclosed details of the recipients, media reports suggest that some are Hindus from Pakistan residing in areas like Adarsh Nagar and Majnu ka Tila in Delhi. Notable among them is Madhubhai Thakur, along with his family, who arrived from Hyderabad, Pakistan, in 2014, and Sital Das from Sindh, Pakistan, who arrived in 2013. Expressing his joy, Harish Kumar, a beneficiary from Pakistan, described the moment as “like being reborn,” emphasizing the newfound opportunities for education and employment.
The Citizenship Amendment Act, passed in December 2019 and notified by the Modi government two months ago, aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities – including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians – from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before January 1, 2015.
Critics argue that the CAA discriminates against Muslims and undermines India’s secular ethos. Massive protests erupted nationwide following its enactment, with condemnation from human rights organizations globally. Despite assurances from the government that the law does not exclude oppressed Muslims, opposition parties have vehemently opposed its implementation.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), an ally of the Congress party in Kerala, has petitioned the Supreme Court against the issuance of citizenship certificates, citing violations of Election Commission guidelines and the Modi government’s affidavit on the CAA. IUML contends that the law contravenes Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, guaranteeing equal rights to all citizens.
While the Congress party has not included the CAA repeal in its election manifesto, senior leader P.A. Chidambaram has pledged its annulment in the first parliamentary session if the opposition alliance assumes power.
In response to criticism, the Modi government maintains that the CAA aims to provide refuge to persecuted minorities and does not prevent oppressed Muslims from seeking Indian citizenship through existing channels. Union Minister Gen. V.K. Singh defended the law, asserting its humanitarian objectives and India’s tradition of sheltering persecuted communities.
As political tensions escalate amid the elections, the issuance of citizenship certificates under the CAA amplifies the debate over its implications for India’s secular fabric and minority rights. While the government portrays it as a humanitarian gesture, critics decry it as discriminatory, setting the stage for a legal and political showdown over the contentious legislation.