Currently, India is facing the worst effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Over 300,000 people have died so far. The death and devastation, caused due to lack of adequate facilities, shortage of hospital beds and oxygen is frightening.
But even as the pandemic rages on, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs has begun the process of implementing the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), much contested in the Parliament. It has sought applications from non Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangla Desh.
Recently, the Home ministry has issued a circular, asking the persecuted minorities from those countries – residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab – to apply for Indian citizenship. However, interestingly, the circular does not mention refugees in West Bengal and Assam. These were the states where the CAA was continually brought up during recent assembly elections.
In response to this, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Congress party’s ally in Kerala, has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the controversial decision planned by the ruling Government. The IUML plea states that Section 5 (1)(a)-(g), read together with Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, do not permit such a classification of applicants on religious grounds; the order, they contend, violates the provision itself.
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