New Delhi, In a strong condemnation of India’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Amnesty International has accused the Narendra Modi-led government of enacting a law that discriminates on religious grounds and contravenes both the Indian constitution and international human rights norms.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the recent formalization of the CAA’s implementation rules by the Indian government has reignited concerns about its implications on religious equality. Originally passed in December 2019, the CAA facilitates Indian citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from three neighboring countries, a move that has sparked widespread debate and protest within and outside India.

In response to the government’s action, Amnesty International articulated its stance via X, criticizing the CAA for breaching fundamental principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in both Indian and international legal frameworks. The organization emphasized that the Act undermines the right to equality before the law and the right to non-discrimination, referencing obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Amnesty International also highlighted the Indian government’s harsh crackdown on anti-CAA protesters in 2019, which included arbitrary detentions and the alleged use of excessive force. The human rights group called on Indian authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful association, and assembly, especially in the context of responding to dissent against the CAA.

The CAA’s exclusion of Muslims from its provisions has fueled accusations that the Modi administration aims to transform India into a Hindu-majority nation, sidelining its significant Muslim population. These developments place India’s democratic values and commitment to human rights under international scrutiny.