Ahead of the 2024 General Elections, the Indian Government has rolled out the much-debated Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019. This move opens doors to citizenship for non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, sparking both hope and controversy. The ruling BJP portrays this as a strategic victory but questions the timing and motives.
Under Prime Minister Modi’s administration, this initiative promises to secure Indian nationality for persecuted Christians, Parsis, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and Hindus who requested refuge in India on or before December 31, 2014. Despite the lack of official numbers, records from the Ministry of Home Affairs (2021-22) reveal that over a thousand migrants from these communities have already received citizenship through existing provisions.
Implemented across nine states, primarily those where Hindus are the majority, this policy marks a significant step in India’s citizenship narrative. As debates swirl, the true impact of the CAA, whether a genuine fulfilment of promises or merely political bait, remains a point of discussion for the opposition and the nation collectively.
What Changes With CAA? Is It Fulfilling Promises Or Political Posturing?
The Citizenship Act of 1955 designated illegal migrants in India as foreigners, denying them citizenship and subjecting them to deportation. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) of 2019, however, created exceptions for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, fleeing religious persecution. Arriving before 2014, these migrants will receive relaxation against legal actions for illegal entry or overstaying, with the required residency period for citizenship reduced from 11 to 5 years.
The CAA faced opposition and was criticised for discriminating against Muslims and potentially affecting the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) processes. Critics, primarily opposition, accused the government of promoting a Hindutva agenda, especially in light of the NRC exercise in Assam that excluded around 20 lakh people. Several states, including Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh, passed resolutions against the CAA, urging the central government to reconsider the amendment.
Who Benefits and Who Bears the Burden?
It took 1,521 days for the ruling government to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 since its announcement. The sudden decision to enact this law just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has sparked considerable discussion. There’s no doubt the BJP government anticipates electoral gains from this move. However, is fulfilling promises necessarily a political stunt or wrongdoing? Despite the BJP’s consistent support for the CAA since the start of its second term, the opposition’s assumptions may not align with reality. This decision faces significant opposition from the entire North East, potentially turning the tide against the BJP.
The BJP plans to initially implement the CAA in states with Hindu majorities to ensure the move benefits a significant number of people, crucial for even local electoral victories.
The Matua community, which migrated from Bangladesh to West Bengal, has long demanded citizenship. Predominantly residing in several cities of West Bengal, they number around 30 lakhs and significantly influence four seats in North West Bengal. The BJP benefited from this community’s support in the last election. If the BJP banks on their support again in 2024, this strategy could prove advantageous, especially given Bengal’s importance with its 42 Lok Sabha seats, ranking third after Maharashtra with 48 seats and Uttar Pradesh with 80 seats, where Yogi Adityanath’s influence appears promising.
Through The Lens Of A Common Man
A trend has emerged where local populations resist settling migrants within their communities. Last year, there were calls from Rajasthan to relocate Pakistani migrants, showing reluctance to allow outsiders to disrupt their established ways of life. This resistance isn’t new; India’s history of internal migration is marked by instances of hostility, such as North Indians in Mumbai and South India facing prejudice. The root of this opposition often lies in the fear of native populations feeling encroached upon, losing their entitlement to resources and space due to incoming migrants.
Beyond cultural clashes, economic factors play a significant role. Competition for jobs, as well as increased strain on social welfare, healthcare, housing, and educational systems, heightens tensions. Though the CAA is set to benefit a relatively small number of people, its full impact on these dynamics remains to be seen following its complete implementation.
