Controversy On CAA: Discussion has started once again in the country regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Before this, there has been a lot of debate regarding this law and protests were also seen at many places. This has been a controversial issue. Some time ago, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that this is the law of the country and it will be implemented under all circumstances.
Apart from this, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur also claimed in West Bengal on Monday (29 January) that CAA will be implemented within a week. This will not only be implemented in West Bengal, but will be implemented in the entire country. So let us know what CAA is and what changes will come with its implementation. Importantly, what is the objection regarding this?
This law has been approved five years ago, but has not been implemented yet. Opposition parties showed more objection regarding the issue and a tough stance was also seen.
Religious discrimination
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act provides for granting Indian citizenship to illegal immigrants from specific religious communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Buddhists and Parsis) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Critics argue that this provision is discriminatory because Muslims are not included in it.
Violation of secularism
Opponents argue that the CAA undermines the secular principles of the Indian Constitution by favoring some religious groups and excluding others.
National Register of Citizens (NRC) related concerns
CAA is often linked to the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Critics fear that if combined, it could lead to boycott of Muslims. Which will create a situation where citizenship will be determined on the basis of religion.
Possibilities of statelessness
There are concerns that a large number of people could become stateless after the implementation of the CAA and NRC if they fail to meet the citizenship criteria and do not have citizenship of another country.
Protests and civil unrest
There were widespread protests across the country regarding the CAA, with many people expressing concern about the potential impact on India’s social fabric, principles of inclusivity and diversity.
Challenge to constitutional values
Apart from this, critics also argue that CAA challenges the values of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The reason given behind this was that this law differentiates between immigrants on the basis of their religion.
Fear of being marginalized
There is a fear among some communities, especially Muslims, that the CAA and NRC laws could lead to their marginalization, boycott and even deportation.
What is the world’s reaction to CAA?
The CAA also came under criticism from international bodies and human rights organizations, who expressed concerns about potential human rights violations and religious discrimination.
Complexity in determining citizenship
Critics are seeing the process of implementing CAA and NRC as complex and prone to mistakes. These people argue that innocent people may have to face difficulties in proving their citizenship, as a result unfair results may also be seen.
Political polarization
Ever since the issue of CAA and NRC came to light, this issue has been heavily politicized and has become politically polarized. Different political parties are adopting different stances. In this divisive environment, this polarization served to hinder constructive dialogue on the issue.
