In a recent exclusive segment on News X, Devika Chopra, Associate Editor, delves into the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) by the Modi government. This significant move, marked by the official notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, brings a new dimension to India’s citizenship framework.
The CAA, enacted in 2019, offers a pathway to Indian citizenship for migrants belonging to six minority communities from these three countries who faced religious persecution. It specifically applies to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian foreigners who migrated to India on or before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution.
In a conversation with beneficiaries of the CAA, their gratitude and relief were palpable. Pyare Singh, a refugee from Afghanistan, expressed his happiness and thanked PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the implementation. He shared his 30-year journey living like an immigrant and how this step provides him with opportunities previously unavailable.
Dayal Singh, a refugee from Pakistan currently residing in Manju Ka Tila, India, shared his story, stating that he arrived in 2013 while his family had been living there since 2011. Reflecting on the situation in Pakistan, Singh noted that tensions escalated in the late 1990s due to the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi issue, leading to the persecution of Hindus. Feeling unsafe, his family decided to seek refuge in India, applying for visas during the Kumbh Mela. Singh expressed gratitude to Shri Nihar Singh for providing them with 47 rooms and full accommodation. He also thanked organizations such as Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, among others, for assisting refugees like them and helping them establish their identity. Singh emphasized that despite ongoing support, many people still view them with suspicion due to their Pakistani origin, reaffirming their Hindu identity.
Manohar Pradhan, a Sikh refugee from Afghanistan, arrived in India in 1979 amidst communal tensions in his homeland. Since then, he and his family have been assisting numerous families in obtaining visas and passports. They are actively involved with the Chief Khalsa Diwan Welfare Society, a prestigious educational and socio-religious institution established in 1902. This society is renowned worldwide for its humanitarian efforts and dedicated service, particularly in supporting refugees and their children. Furthermore, the society in Delhi provides a book detailing their initiatives for those interested. Pradhan expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his significant initiatives in this regard.
The implementation of the CAA brings a ray of hope for persecuted minorities, offering them a chance for a better life and a sense of belonging in India.
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