New Delhi, The Indian government has announced plans to implement the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, which notably excludes Muslims, just weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, characterized by critics as a Hindu nationalist, is slated to seek a third term. The act aims to expedite the naturalization process for individuals from several religious minorities from neighboring countries, specifically omitting Muslims from its purview.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the legislation, approved by the Indian Parliament in 2019, had been postponed in terms of implementation following the eruption of widespread protests across New Delhi and other areas, which saw significant violence and loss of lives. The CAA facilitates citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians fleeing persecution from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before the cutoff date of December 31, 2014, while explicitly excluding Muslims, who form the majority in these nations.

The law’s introduction had sparked national uproar, drawing participants from diverse faiths united in their criticism that the CAA fundamentally contradicts India’s secular ethos. Muslim communities expressed particular concern over the potential use of the CAA in conjunction with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) to systematically disenfranchise them.

The NRC, thus far implemented only in Assam, is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s broader strategy to identify and deport individuals it deems illegal immigrants. The BJP has also indicated intentions to extend this verification process across the country, further intensifying fears among India’s Muslim population regarding their future status and rights within the nation.