Researched and documented information of what CAA actually is to make readers understand the facts and counter the misleading and misinformation that has clouded CAA ever since it came into effect
3. #CAA Made Easy
• 1947: India opted to be a
democratic, secular and
pluralist republic
• Pakistan opted to be an
Islamic Republic
• Between 10–12 million
people displaced during
India’s Partition on
religious lines
• Nehru-Liaquat pact of
April 8, 1950 is backdrop
of CAA
The pact’s four main
concerns related to:
• Allowing refugees to return
unmolested to dispose of
their property
• Returning of abducted
women and looted
property
• Derecognizing forced
conversions
• Confirming minority rights
Historical perspective
Nehru-Liaquat pact
of April 8, 1950 is
backdrop of CAA
4. #CAA Made Easy
Background
Citizenship Act of 1950 first amended in 1985
after massive movement in Assam in 1980’s.
Also amended in 1992, 2003, 2005 and 2015.
In 1980’s - Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi agreed
✓ To identify foreign citizens
✓ Move them from electoral roles
✓ Expel them from the country
In Dec 2003 BJP passed CAA; added term
“illegal immigrants”.
5. #CAA Made Easy
• CAA recognises, regularises victims of past
genocides / discrimination in the sub-
continent
• Eligibility for citizenship reduced from
12 years reduced to 7 years to be eligible
• Provides for speedy citizenship access [despite
being in India for decades, do not enjoy any rights or
possess any documents to be certified as Indian
citizens]
• Beneficiaries are target of maximum
persecution needing support.
Historical background
6. CAA beneficiaries
Hindus 25,447
Sikhs 5,807
Christians 55
Buddhists 2
Parsis 2
#CAA Made Easy
WHO?
✓ Religiously persecuted
✓ Many are Dalits
✓ Entered India before Dec’ 31, 2014
✓ Entered without valid visa or
documents
✓ In India for more than 12 years
✓ No rights or documents certifying
as Indian citizens
8. Will other immigrants get
citizenship?
• Under Citizenship Act under Naturalization:
Section 6; / through Registration - Section 5
any foreigner/ any category can apply
• If eligible, will get Indian citizenship,
irrespective of numbers or religion
Indian citizenship granted
in last 6 years
Pakistanis 2838
Afghans 914
Bangladeshis 172
9. Will other immigrants get Indian
citizenship?
•14,864 Bangladeshi citizens in
2014 were given Indian citizenship
• After settlement of Indo-
Bangladesh boundary issues,
when their enclaves were
incorporated into the territory of
India
10.
11. Does it affect any other citizens
in India?
• No, it does not
• No legal citizen of India of any religion
is affected
• All citizens enjoy fundamental rights
conferred by Indian Constitution
• Does not take them away any rights
12. Will CAA gradually exclude Indian
Muslims from citizenship of India?
• Applicable only to “Illegal
immigrants
• No Indian citizen or Indian
Muslims will be affected.
13. Why are only minorities from
Afghanistan, Pakistan and
Bangladesh covered and Muslims
exempted?
• Minorities faced/facing
persecution in these Islamic
majority countries
• India considers it moral obligation
to provide shelter
14. Will illegal Muslim immigrants from
these three countries be deported
under CAA?
• No role for CAA in deporting illegal
immigrants
• The Foreigners Act, 1946 and/or The
Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920
govern entry, stay movement within India
and exit from India of all foreigners
whatever be their religion or country
• Usual deportation process applies to any
illegal foreigner staying in India
15. Can Hindus facing religious persecution
other than Pakistan, Bangladesh, and
Afghanistan apply under the CAA?
• No, Hindus from other countries will not get any
preference under The Citizenship Act, 1955
• Need to apply through regular registration or
naturalization process for citizenship
• Need to meet minimum qualifications laid down in
Citizenship Act, 1955
16. Does CAA cover other forms of
persecution viz., race, gender,
membership of a political or social
group, language, ethnicity etc.?
• No, it does not
• CAA is specific to six minority
community groups from Pakistan,
Bangladesh, and Afghanistan - all of
which have their distinct state religion
17. If CAA is about people facing persecution,
why are Hindu migrants from Sri Lanka
not covered?
• Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus were given
citizenship in the 1970’s and 1980’s
• CAA is a time-bound relief measure to those
who were in India but suffered during
division on religious lines
18. If CAA is about people facing persecution,
why are Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar
not covered?
Myanmar comes under UNHCR mandate that:
• Assesses each individual asylum claim
• Issues ID card to ones recognised as refugees
• Biometric data collected for registration
• Interviewed by a UNHCR officer
• Currently these refugees, including Rohingya,
with UNHCR IDs can apply for a "long-term visa",
and granted on a case by case basis.
•
19. Muslims like Ahmediya’s and
Shias are persecuted in Pakistan.
Why not allow them?
•No reports of Ahmediya’s or
Shia’s in Indian refugee camps
or other places in India
