CAA rules likely to seek proof of religion

V-P rules out scope for outside interference; India seeks dialogue with EU MPs

Draft rules may also require…

• Documents from applicants that they entered India before December 31, 2014

• Papers to prove that they belonged to the six religions (Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi) eligible under the law

BQ:

Some efforts are being made outside India to comment on some laws made by Parliament and to raise some issues based on inadequate knowledge… Such efforts are totally uncalled for and unwarranted.—M Venkaiah Naidu, vice president

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 27

As the Centre is in the process of finalising rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), sources in the government indicated that the non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan applying for Indian citizenship under the new law would have to produce documentary “proof of religion”.

The draft rules for the CAA, 2019, are also likely to seek documents from applicants that they entered India before December 31, 2014, and that they belonged to the six religions (Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi) eligible under the law.

The Union Government is also likely to give a relatively smaller window of just three months to those who want to apply for the Indian citizenship in Assam under the CAA, another official said, adding that some Assam-specific provisions were expected to be incorporated in the rules to be issued for the implementation of the amended Act.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a request about a fortnight ago to keep a limited period window for applying under the CAA and also incorporate some other Assam-specific provisions in relevant rules.

The move comes in view of continuing protests against the CAA in Assam that have been going on since the legislation was passed by Parliament in December last year.

Meanwhile, taking exception to attempts by certain foreign bodies commenting on lawmaking in India, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said there was no scope for outside interference in India’s internal matters.

“Some efforts are being made outside India to comment on some laws made by Parliament and to raise some issues based on inadequate knowledge and insufficient understanding of the issues sought to be addressed by our lawmakers. Such efforts are totally uncalled for and unwarranted,” Nadiu said releasing a book “TRG-An Enigma” on the life of educationist TR Gupta.

The remarks come in the backdrop of latest move by Members of European Union Parliament who moved six resolutions on the Citizenship Amendment Act terming it as a dangerous shift in India’s citizenship regime.

India has reacted strongly to the introduction of these resolutions in European Parliament. “As fellow democracies, EU Parliament should not take actions that call into question the rights and authority of democratically elected legislatures in other regions of the world,” said government sources.

“The CAA is a matter that is entirely internal to India. Moreover, this legislation has been adopted by due process and through democratic means after a public debate in both Houses of Parliament,” they added.

“Every society that fashions a pathway to naturalisation, contemplates both a context and criteria. This is not discrimination. In fact, European societies have followed the same approach,” they added.

With member countries as well as the European Union washing their hands off the resolutions, New Delhi made a direct appeal to the sponsors and supporters of the draft to engage with the government to get a full and accurate assessment of the facts before they proceed further.

The resolutions will be discussed from late Wednesday and voting is expected the next day. If passed, European Commission chiefs will be asked to raise these issues with the Indian Government.

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has also questioned the objectivity of members of European Union (EU) Parliament asking if they had ever raised their voices over “victimisation” of minority Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan.