Politics

Citizenship Act: Here's a brief guide to the new law

Updated : December 16, 2019 12:32 PM IST

The Act has triggered violent protests across several parts of the country, with the national capital being one of the worst-hit.

Protestors set ablaze four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with the cops near Jamia Millia Islamia on Sunday.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) passed by both houses of Parliament in the winter session is now known as the Citizenship Act. The Act has triggered violent protests across several parts of the country, with the national capital being one of the worst-hit after protestors set ablaze four public buses and two police vehicles as they clashed with the cops near Jamia Millia Islamia on Sunday.

The police detained around 50 Jamia students alleging they were involved in the violence which left nearly 60 injured. While the students were released early today after the Varsity union denied their involvement, tension prevailed in the national capital.

Meanwhile, protests continued in the northeast region as well with Assamese artistes coming together to take a stand against the Citizenship Act.

Here's a brief guide to the Act:

The Act seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

A person belonging to any of these faiths from the three nations can apply for Indian citizenship after six years of residence in the country, without having to prove his/her birth.

The Act aims to protect these people from proceedings against them in the claim of illegal migration.

It covers people who were “forced or compelled to seek shelter in India due to persecution on the ground of religion..”.

People who have entered India on or before December 31, 2014, are eligible of citizenship, as per the proposed changes.

The primary opposition is that it makes illegal migrants eligible for citizenship on the basis of religion, which critics say violates the spirit of equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution.

The Act has also faced opposition and reservation from many political outfits, including NDA alliance partners over concerns that granting citizenship to foreigners will undermine the ethnic communities living in regions.

Minority outfits have lashed out against it for leaving out Muslims and also on the ground that it is at odds with the Constitution, which does not differentiate between citizens on the basis of religion.

Assamese feel that the Act could nullify the 1985 Assam Accord, which had set March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for deportation of illegal refugees.

(Inputs from agencies)

Citizenship Act: Here's a brief guide to the new law

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