New Delhi: In a significant policy shift, the Government of India has announced an extension of the deadline for eligibility under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by ten years. The new cutoff date for applicants seeking Indian citizenship under the CAA is now December 31, 2024, up from the previous deadline of December 31, 2014. This extension allows non-Muslim minorities from neighboring countries specifically Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to apply for citizenship, provided they entered India on or before the new cutoff date.
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued this notification, which effectively grants these communities an additional decade to seek refuge and citizenship in India under the amended law. This move is expected to benefit individuals who fled religious persecution in their home countries and have been residing in India without formal documentation.
The decision has garnered attention in light of upcoming elections in states like West Bengal and Bihar, where significant numbers of affected communities reside. The extension aims to provide relief to these communities and facilitate their integration into Indian society.
However, the extension has also reignited debates about the CAA's exclusion of Muslim refugees from the same provisions. Critics argue that the law discriminates against Muslims and violates India's secular constitution. Despite these concerns, the government maintains that the CAA is a humanitarian measure to protect religious minorities facing persecution in neighboring countries.
As the new deadline approaches, it remains to be seen how this policy change will impact the political landscape and the lives of those seeking refuge in India.