Debate grows over new CAA rules, with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi expressing concerns about unfairness. Tensions rise as elections approach.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has accused the government of trying to stir up religious tensions before the upcoming elections. This comes in response to reports suggesting that the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be announced just before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi expressed his concern, calling CAA “anti-constitutional” and unfair to marginalized communities, especially Muslims. He emphasized the connection between CAA and NPR-NRC, stating that it could negatively impact Muslims, Dalits, and the poor.
Yechury pointed out the timing of the rule announcement, suggesting that it might be a political strategy to use communal divisions for electoral advantage. An anonymous official mentioned the intention to issue CAA rules before the elections. The CAA, passed in 2019, makes it easier for non-Muslims from neighboring countries to obtain Indian citizenship.
Union Minister Amit Shah affirmed the government’s commitment to implementing CAA and accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of misleading the public. Opposition figures, such as Samajwadi Party’s Fakhrul Hasan, argued that the government is diverting attention from unfulfilled promises by focusing on CAA, temples, and mosques. Despite ongoing protests since 2019, the government asserts its readiness to implement CAA, emphasizing an online application process without extensive documentation requirements.
