The critics of CAA were hoping/wishing that the government will not implement the act because after being passed in the parliament, it has not been notified despite the fact that more than one year passed. However, the government has decided to implement the act in full swing and has invited application from non-Muslim persecuted minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan — Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian — who had come to India till December 31, 2014.
“In exercise of powers conferred under Section 16 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), the central government hereby directs that powers exercisable by it for registration as citizen of India under Section 5, or for grant of certificate of naturalisation under section 6 of the Citizenship Act 1955 in respect of any person belonging to minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, residing in the districts mentioned and the states mentioned below….,” the notification said.
In India, a large number of Hindus across the country live as refugees because they were displaced from their native places due to violence against them, mostly by Muslims. The CAA will give dignity to these people by making them equal citizens of the country.
Previously, in a rally in West Bengal during the assembly election, Amit Shah said that using CAA, the Matua community will be accorded Indian citizenship by the BJP. Amit Shah added that Mamata Banerjee never wants CAA to be implemented because she fears her vote bank will get angry.
“Matua community – Namsudhra community who are here, shouldn’t they be given citizenship? Didi says they shouldn’t be given citizenship. Why? Because she is scared of her vote bank. But how will you stop us Didi, your departure on May 2 is confirmed. After BJP forms its government, CAA will be implemented and people of these communities will be given citizenship,” Shah said.
Moreover, the victory in Assam, the state which witnessed the most ferocious protest against CAA, encouraged the party to implement the same because the majority of the people in the country as well as in the state of Assam are in its support.
While BJP in its manifesto in March had not explicitly talked about it, the victory, however, all but gave it the mandate to pursue the issue with more ferocity. The North-eastern state has been facing the problem of illegal immigrants swarming to the state in hoards for some years now. Bringing CAA-NRC is being seen as the ultimate antidote to quash the decades-old problem.
The party succeeded in portraying illegal Muslims of Bengali origin as the biggest threat to the indigenous communities in Assam and ultimately used it for its benefit. Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) and Raijor Dal, the two parties formed as an outcome of the anti-CAA protests, managed to win only one seat.
In the last few months, a particular section of the media has been casting aspersions over the seriousness of the Modi government in the implementation of CAA. Putting all the questions to rest, Amit Shah recently revealed that as soon as COVID-19 is over, CAA will be implemented all over the country.
The victory further bolstered the Home Minister’s confidence in the implementation of the legislation so that Assam and the entire country can get rid of the aliens and allow those who have the rightful claim to stay back.