“Will Implement Citizenship Act After Covid Pandemic Ends”: Amit Shah In Bengal

Although the controversial CAA law was passed in 2019, the rules on how it is to be executed have not been framed yet. Speaking about the same Home Minister Amit Shah has said this will happen once the pandemic ends.

CAA to implement after pandemic gets over

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented as soon as the Covid-19 pandemic gets over, Union home minister Amit Shah said in West Bengal on Thursday, accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state of spreading rumors about the central law.

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“I have come to North Bengal today. I want to make it clear that the Trinamool Congress is spreading rumors that the CAA will not be implemented. I want to say that as soon as the Covid wave decreases we will implement CAA on the ground,” Amit Shah said.

“Mamata didi, did you want the infiltration to continue? But I want to tell you the CAA was a reality and it will remain a reality and the TMC cannot do anything about it,” added the Home Minister.

Mamata’s response

Mamata Banerjee responded immediately to Amit Shah’s statement.

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“This is their plan. Why are they not bringing the bill to Parliament? They are not coming in 2024, I am telling you. We don’t want any citizen’s rights to suffer. Unity is our strength. He has come after one year. Har baar aate hain ganda baat karte hain (Every time they come here, they talk rubbish),” the Chief Minister said.

The CAA faced massive protests in parts of the country in late 2019 and early 2020, months before the Covid outbreak prompted lockdowns and other restrictions.

The law, widely criticized as biased as it makes religion a factor for nationality, seeks to fast-track citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan before 2015.

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Leftists say the law, along with a planned National Register of Citizens or NRC, will result in lakhs of Muslims losing their citizenship. The Centre, however, asserts that no Indian will lose their citizenship.