14 Individuals Receive First Citizenship Certificates Under CAA
The first set of citizenship certificates after notification of Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 were issued today. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over citizenship certificates to some applicants in New Delhi today. Home Secretary congratulated the applicants… pic.twitter.com/RBTYSreN9O
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2024
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the rules notification on March 11, four years following the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, or CAA, by Parliament.
On Wednesday, 14 individuals received their citizenship certificates after successfully processing their applications online. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla personally handed over the certificates to them.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) revises the Citizenship Act of 1955 to offer an expedited route to Indian citizenship for migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Specifically, it pertains to individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian communities who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in their countries of origin.
The legislation has sparked vigorous debate and widespread protests across India.
Last month, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram stated that the CAA would be repealed during the first session of Parliament after the INDIA bloc assumes power at the Centre.