India on Monday unveiled regulations to enforce a citizenship law from 2019, which critics argue discriminates against Muslims.
This move comes just weeks before Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks an unprecedented third term for his Hindu nationalist government.
The Citizenship Amendment Act offers Indian nationality to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians who fled to predominantly Hindu India from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before December 31, 2014.
Following protests and sectarian violence erupting in New Delhi and other areas shortly after the law’s enactment in December 2019, Modi’s administration had delayed crafting implementation guidelines. The unrest led to numerous casualties and injuries during clashes over several days.
A government spokesperson announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, emphasizing its inclusion in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 2019 election manifesto. The spokesperson highlighted the law’s aim to provide refuge to persecuted individuals seeking citizenship in India.
Several rights groups have labeled the law as “anti-Muslim,” criticizing its exclusionary nature and its potential violation of India’s secular principles outlined in the constitution. They argue against the imposition of religious criteria for citizenship, stressing the constitutional provisions that ensure equality and protection under the law for all citizens.
Muslim organizations express concerns that when combined with a proposed national register of citizens, the law could lead to discrimination against India’s sizable Muslim population. They fear potential citizenship revocation for Muslims lacking proper documentation, particularly in border states.
The government refutes allegations of anti-Muslim sentiment, defending the law as a means to aid minorities facing persecution in Muslim-majority countries. It asserts that the law aims to grant citizenship rather than strip it away and dismisses earlier protests as politically motivated.
Since assuming power in 2014, Modi has emphasized economic growth, welfare programs, infrastructure development, and assertive Hindu nationalism to bolster his leadership.
