'Islamophobic' citizenship law sparks controversy in India
2 Min Read
The new law permits non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who sought refuge in Hindu-majority India before December 31, 2014, to attain Indian citizenship.
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Muslims in India offer prayers in Amritsar (AFP via Getty Images)
The Indian government introduced a highly contentious citizenship law, criticized for its perceived discrimination against Muslims, just weeks ahead of the country's general elections. Analysts argue that it serves as a strategy to appeal to Hindu nationalist voters.
On Monday, a government spokesperson stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has declared the enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The legislation permits non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, who sought refuge in Hindu-majority India before December 31, 2014, to attain Indian citizenship.
The big picture
The enactment of the law coincides with the anticipation of the announcement of election dates in the country, expected to take place in April or May, where Modi is strongly positioned to secure a third term in office. On Monday, the primary opposition party, Congress, asserted that the timing of the law's implementation was deliberately chosen to precede the upcoming polls.
"After seeking nine extensions for the notification of the rules, the timing right before the elections is evidently designed to polarize the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam," Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
It is worth noting that large Muslim communities reside in the eastern states.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India, in opposition and governing the southern state of Kerala, has called for protests across the entire state on Tuesday.
"This is to divide the people, incite communal sentiments, and undermine the fundamental principles of the Constitution," Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated.
"This move to stratify Indian citizens who have equal rights, must be opposed unitedly," Vijayan added.
A significant portion of India's 200 million Muslims, constituting the world's third-largest Muslim population, expresses concerns that the implementation of the CAA might pave the way for the introduction of a proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). If enacted, the NRC is apprehended to strip citizenship from Muslims lacking proper documentation in certain border states.
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