Elections are around the corner in India. Indian govt notifies CAA rules ahead of elections. Politics in India has heated up. Opposition and govt are at crossroads over CAA. Protests have also erupted in several Indian states. Watch this video for all details.

CAA rules notified: Protests erupt in some Indian states against CAA

<p><strong>What is CAA?&nbsp;</strong>Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, March 11, 2024. The announcement came just weeks ahead of the General Elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Citizenship Amendment Bill amended the Citizenship Act of 1955. The amendment&nbsp;became a law after it was passed by both houses of the Indian parliament in December&nbsp;2019.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be notifying today, the Rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship. (1/2)</p>
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIBHomeAffairs/status/1767173421727711374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act were not notified till March 11, 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)?</strong></h2>

<p>The Citizenship Amendment Act or the CAA provides for an accelerated pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from neighbouring Muslim-majority nations Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who arrived in India by December 31, 2014.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Just 2 page law, now notified by Modi Govt. Portal opens tonight to submit an application for Indian citizenship. <a href="https://t.co/Twa3ui9IUX">https://t.co/Twa3ui9IUX</a> <a href="https://t.co/RvJ3aXOkW3">pic.twitter.com/RvJ3aXOkW3</a></p>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1767174671945142608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The religious minorities listed within the ambit of the Citizenship Amendment Act include&nbsp; individuals from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian faiths who&nbsp;fled to India from the neighbouring Muslim-majority nations&nbsp;due to "religious persecution or fear of religious persecution".</p>

<h2><strong>Who will be eligible for&nbsp;Indian citizenship after CAA rules are notified?</strong></h2>

<p>The members of persecuted minorities who entered India before December 31, 2014, with&nbsp;either Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh as their country of origin — will be eligible to get Indian citizenship following the notification of the CAA&nbsp;rules. This is because the CAA fast-tracks the route to Indian citizenship for these persecuted minorities by six years and these migrants, because they entered India before 2014, will be eligible to get Indian citizenship.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The amendment relaxes the residence requirement for naturalisation of these migrants from 11 years to five.</p>


What is CAA? Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, March 11, 2024. The announcement came just weeks ahead of the General Elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term.

What is CAA? Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Monday, March 11, 2024. The announcement came just weeks ahead of the General Elections in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term. The Citizenship Amendment Bill amended the Citizenship Act of 1955. The amendment became a law after it was passed by both houses of the Indian parliament in December 2019. Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be notifying today, the Rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship. (1/2) — Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) March 11, 2024 × The rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act were not notified till March 11, 2024. What is the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)? The Citizenship Amendment Act or the CAA provides for an accelerated pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from neighbouring Muslim-majority nations Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who arrived in India by December 31, 2014. Just 2 page law, now notified by Modi Govt. Portal opens tonight to submit an application for Indian citizenship. https://t.co/Twa3ui9IUX pic.twitter.com/RvJ3aXOkW3 — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 11, 2024 × The religious minorities listed within the ambit of the Citizenship Amendment Act include individuals from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian faiths who fled to India from the neighbouring Muslim-majority nations due to "religious persecution or fear of religious persecution". Who will be eligible for Indian citizenship after CAA rules are notified? The members of persecuted minorities who entered India before December 31, 2014, with either Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh as their country of origin — will be eligible to get Indian citizenship following the notification of the CAA rules. This is because the CAA fast-tracks the route to Indian citizenship for these persecuted minorities by six years and these migrants, because they entered India before 2014, will be eligible to get Indian citizenship. The amendment relaxes the residence requirement for naturalisation of these migrants from 11 years to five.

What is CAA? How it fast-tracks Indian citizenship of religious minorities from South Asian nations

Elections are around the corner in India. Indian govt notifies CAA rules ahead of elections. Politics in India has heated up. Opposition and govt are at crossroads over CAA. Watch this video for all details.

CAA rules notified: These Indian states say they won't let CAA be implemented

<p>India’s northeastern state of Assam was rocked by protests Monday evening (Mar 11) as the federal government officially implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). The act paves the way for granting citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The protests were led by an opposition bloc of 16 political parties, called United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), which is led by the Congress party. The UOFA also called for a state-wide shutdown on Tuesday (Mar 12). All Assam Students' Union (AASU) declared it will challenge the legislation ‘in and outside court.’ It said its members will also travel to New Delhi to urge the central government to withdraw the CAA.</p>

<p>AASU protesters on Monday burnt copies of the Act and staged protest rallies in different parts of the state, including Guwahati, Kamrup, Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Tezpur.</p>

<h2><strong>Arguments against CAA</strong></h2>

<p>AASU and other political groups opposing the CAA say it will dilute the indigenous Assamese population by granting citizenship to a significant number of Hindu Bengali migrants who came from neighbouring Bangladesh during the 1971 war.</p>

<p>They also fear that the law would challenge their culture and undermine their languages and communities.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;PM Modi Assam Visit: On Day 2, PM Modi visits Kaziranga National park in Assam</strong></p>

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<p>AASU also led the intense protests against ‘foreigners’ between 1979 and 1985. The organisation says CAA would undermine the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which promised to identify migrants as "foreigners" against the cut-off date of March 24, 1971.</p>

<p>Assam witnessed massive protests in 2019 when the legislation was passed by the Indian parliament.</p>

<h2><strong>‘Black day’</strong></h2>

<p>Chief of the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional party that emerged from the anti-CAA agitation in 2019, termed Mar 11 as a black day. Lurinjyoti Gogoi also condemned the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for ‘dividing people’ ahead of Lok Sabha elections.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjV-LCm5-2EAxXVSWwGHZ-SDi4QxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-assam-set-to-inaugurate-projects-worth-21-bn-698203" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-assam-set-to-inaugurate-projects-worth-21-bn-698203&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjV-LCm5-2EAxXVSWwGHZ-SDi4QxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">WATCH | PM Modi visits Kaziranga National Park in Assam, takes elephant safari</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the BJP says the protests are held by a faction of individuals and people of the country largely supported the government’s move.</p>

<h2><strong>Delhi police on high alert</strong></h2>

<p>Amid concerns of protests in the National Capital Region (NCR),&nbsp;Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) held flag march in Delhi's Seelampur area on Tuesday.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, opposition parties from Tamil Nadu state have voiced concerns about the implementation of CAA in the state, saying that the law will divide the people on religious lines.</p>

<h2><strong>Warning by Assam CM</strong></h2>

<p>Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who hails from BJP, warned that any political party or group holding protests against CAA would be dealt with legal action. Sarma cited a Gauhati High Court order dated March 19, 2023, which said that "bandhs are illegal and unconstitutional".</p>

<p>Police have also issued a notice to UOFA against holding protests.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India’s northeastern state of Assam was rocked by protests Monday evening (Mar 11) as the federal government officially implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).

India’s northeastern state of Assam was rocked by protests Monday evening (Mar 11) as the federal government officially implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). The act paves the way for granting citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The protests were led by an opposition bloc of 16 political parties, called United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA), which is led by the Congress party. The UOFA also called for a state-wide shutdown on Tuesday (Mar 12). All Assam Students' Union (AASU) declared it will challenge the legislation ‘in and outside court.’ It said its members will also travel to New Delhi to urge the central government to withdraw the CAA. AASU protesters on Monday burnt copies of the Act and staged protest rallies in different parts of the state, including Guwahati, Kamrup, Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Golaghat and Tezpur. Arguments against CAA AASU and other political groups opposing the CAA say it will dilute the indigenous Assamese population by granting citizenship to a significant number of Hindu Bengali migrants who came from neighbouring Bangladesh during the 1971 war. They also fear that the law would challenge their culture and undermine their languages and communities. Watch: PM Modi Assam Visit: On Day 2, PM Modi visits Kaziranga National park in Assam × AASU also led the intense protests against ‘foreigners’ between 1979 and 1985. The organisation says CAA would undermine the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which promised to identify migrants as "foreigners" against the cut-off date of March 24, 1971. Assam witnessed massive protests in 2019 when the legislation was passed by the Indian parliament. ‘Black day’ Chief of the Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a regional party that emerged from the anti-CAA agitation in 2019, termed Mar 11 as a black day. Lurinjyoti Gogoi also condemned the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for ‘dividing people’ ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Also read: WATCH | PM Modi visits Kaziranga National Park in Assam, takes elephant safari Meanwhile, the BJP says the protests are held by a faction of individuals and people of the country largely supported the government’s move. Delhi police on high alert Amid concerns of protests in the National Capital Region (NCR), Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) held flag march in Delhi's Seelampur area on Tuesday. Meanwhile, opposition parties from Tamil Nadu state have voiced concerns about the implementation of CAA in the state, saying that the law will divide the people on religious lines. Warning by Assam CM Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who hails from BJP, warned that any political party or group holding protests against CAA would be dealt with legal action. Sarma cited a Gauhati High Court order dated March 19, 2023, which said that "bandhs are illegal and unconstitutional". Police have also issued a notice to UOFA against holding protests. (With inputs from agencies)

Opposition calls for state-wide shutdown in India’s Assam against Citizenship Amendment Act

The Centre on Monday announced the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, a move that comes four years after the contentious law was passed and paves the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Government of Indian announces implementation of CAA

The Centre on Monday announced the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, a move that comes four years after the contentious law was passed and paves the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. WION tells you all you need to know about the CAA.

Power Explainer: What is the Citizenship Amendment Act?

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the government has "fulfilled its guarantee by issuing the notification of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)". The government notified the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act on March 11, 2024 weeks ahead of General Elections in which Prime Minister Modi is seeking a third consecutive term.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"CAA has been implemented across India,"&nbsp;BJP wrote on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Laying out the timeline of the passage of the citizenship law, the BJP said that the proposed law was first presented in the parliament in 2019. It was passed in Lok Sabha, the lower house directly elected by the people on December 10, 2019 and in Rajya Sabha, the upper house elected by the state legislative members, on December 11, 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The Citizenship Amendment Act took the form of a law after it was signed by the president," the BJP wrote on X.</p>

<p>"On March 11, 2024, Central government notified the rules of Citizenship Amendment Act."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 &amp; 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝!<br />
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India is committed to protecting persecuted religious minorities. <a href="https://t.co/KpogkaDO9W">pic.twitter.com/KpogkaDO9W</a></p>
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<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah while reacting to the development said, "CAA rules enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in India."<br />
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Earlier while speaking at an event, Shah had said,&nbsp;"CAA was a promise of the Congress government. When the country was divided and the minorities were persecuted in those countries, Congress had assured the refugees that they were welcome in India and they would be provided with Indian citizenship. Now they are backtracking," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>CAA rules notified: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan&nbsp;CMs hail move</strong></h2>

<p>Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma took to social media platform X and tweeted:<strong>&nbsp;</strong>“Modi ji's guarantee means guarantee of fulfillment. CAA is a humanitarian law through which the oppressed Hindu and minority communities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will pave the way to realize their years-long dream of Indian citizenship by providing them a dignified life.”</p>

<p>Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the notification of the CAA as "historic" and said it is a decision for the welfare of humanity.</p>

<p>"This has paved the way for a respectable life for the minority communities suffering from religious brutality in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan," Yogi Adityanath said, while expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-is-caa-how-it-fastracks-citizenship-of-religious-minorities-from-parts-of-south-asia-699036">What is CAA? How it fast tracks Indian citizenship of religious minorities from parts of South Asia</a></strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Uttar Pradesh chief minister described it as a "humanitarian decision which brings joy to humanity."</p>

<p>"Hearty congratulations to all the brothers and sisters who are going to get Indian citizenship under this Act," added the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also took to X and hailed the notification of the CAA rules as reflection of PM Modi's "strong will in the national interest".</p>

<p>"We have full confidence that similar decisions will be taken to strengthen the country in your third term also," Dhami added.&nbsp;</p>


Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the government has "fulfilled its guarantee by issuing the notification of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that the government has "fulfilled its guarantee by issuing the notification of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)". The government notified the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act on March 11, 2024 weeks ahead of General Elections in which Prime Minister Modi is seeking a third consecutive term. "CAA has been implemented across India," BJP wrote on social media. Laying out the timeline of the passage of the citizenship law, the BJP said that the proposed law was first presented in the parliament in 2019. It was passed in Lok Sabha, the lower house directly elected by the people on December 10, 2019 and in Rajya Sabha, the upper house elected by the state legislative members, on December 11, 2019. "The Citizenship Amendment Act took the form of a law after it was signed by the president," the BJP wrote on X. "On March 11, 2024, Central government notified the rules of Citizenship Amendment Act." 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 & 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝! India is committed to protecting persecuted religious minorities. pic.twitter.com/KpogkaDO9W — BJP (@BJP4India) March 11, 2024 × Union Home Minister Amit Shah while reacting to the development said, "CAA rules enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in India." Earlier while speaking at an event, Shah had said, "CAA was a promise of the Congress government. When the country was divided and the minorities were persecuted in those countries, Congress had assured the refugees that they were welcome in India and they would be provided with Indian citizenship. Now they are backtracking," he added. CAA rules notified: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan CMs hail move Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma took to social media platform X and tweeted: “Modi ji's guarantee means guarantee of fulfillment. CAA is a humanitarian law through which the oppressed Hindu and minority communities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will pave the way to realize their years-long dream of Indian citizenship by providing them a dignified life.” Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath hailed the notification of the CAA as "historic" and said it is a decision for the welfare of humanity. "This has paved the way for a respectable life for the minority communities suffering from religious brutality in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan," Yogi Adityanath said, while expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah. Also read | What is CAA? How it fast tracks Indian citizenship of religious minorities from parts of South Asia The Uttar Pradesh chief minister described it as a "humanitarian decision which brings joy to humanity." "Hearty congratulations to all the brothers and sisters who are going to get Indian citizenship under this Act," added the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also took to X and hailed the notification of the CAA rules as reflection of PM Modi's "strong will in the national interest". "We have full confidence that similar decisions will be taken to strengthen the country in your third term also," Dhami added.

BJP hails PM for CAA implementation, says ‘Modi’s guarantee’ means fulfilment of promises

Weeks ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Indian government announces CAA implementation

<p>The Indian government on Monday (Mar 11) announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act by notifying its rules but the opposition was quick to slam the government over the decision&nbsp;and linked it to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls due in April-May.</p>

<p>Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to the social media platform X and termed the announcement as the BJP's latest move to polarise the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It has taken four years and three months for the Modi Government to notify the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act that was passed by the Parliament in December 2019. The Prime Minister claims that his Government works in a business-like and time-bound manner. The time taken to notify the rules for the CAA is yet another demonstration of the Prime Minister’s blatant lies," he wrote.</p>

<p>"After seeking nine extensions for the notification of the rules, the timing right before the elections is evidently designed to polarise the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam. It also appears to be an attempt to manage the headlines after the Supreme Court’s severe strictures on the Electoral Bonds Scandal," he added.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">दिसंबर 2019 में संसद द्वारा पारित नागरिकता संशोधन अधिनियम के नियमों को अधिसूचित करने में मोदी सरकार को चार साल और तीन महीने लग गए। प्रधानमंत्री दावा करते हैं कि उनकी सरकार बिल्कुल प्रोफेशनल ढंग से और समयबद्ध तरीक़े से काम करती है। सीएए के नियमों को अधिसूचित करने में लिया गया इतना…</p>
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1767169607943471197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioned why the government was announcing the decision now after ten years.</p>

<p>"Why did they delay it so much, and if they are implementing it, why not after the elections? Their sole objective is to make every issue a Hindu-Muslim issue. This goes against our Constitution," he said while talking to reporters.</p>

<p>Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacting to the announcement said that it was aimed at "disquieting the nation".</p>

<p>"The Central Government's notification of the Rules to the Citizenship Amendment Act in the wake of the elections is aimed at disquieting the nation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the notification regarding the CAA, just ahead of the announcement of the elections to the Lok Sabha. This is to divide the people, incite communal sentiments and undermine the fundamental principles of the Constitution. This move to stratify Indian citizens who have equal rights, must be opposed unitedly," he wrote in a post on X.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Central Government's notification of the Rules to the Citizenship Amendment Act in the wake of the elections is aimed at disquieting the nation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the notification regarding the CAA, just ahead of the announcement of the elections to the…</p>
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) <a href="https://twitter.com/pinarayivijayan/status/1767206096312393999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that centre's decision to notify CAA is against country and that people would respondto it in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.</p>

<p>"After ruling the country for ten years, Modi government has brought CAA before the elections. At a time when the poor and middle class are groaning due to inflation and unemployed youth are struggling from door to door for employment, instead of solving those real issues, these people have brought CAA," the Delhi CM wrote in a post on X.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">दस साल देश पर राज करने के बाद एन चुनाव के पहले मोदी सरकार CAA लेकर आयी है। ऐसे वक़्त जब गरीब और मध्यम वर्ग महंगाई से कराह रहा है और बेरोज़गार युवा रोज़गार के लिए दर दर की ठोकरें खा रहा है, उन असली मुद्दों का समाधान करने की बजाय ये लोग CAA लाये हैं।<br />
<br />
कह रहे हैं कि तीन पड़ोसी देशों…</p>
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/1767205244109226230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is strongly opposed especially by the people of Assam and the entire North-East India, who have been victims of migration from Bangladesh and whose language and culture are in danger today. BJP has betrayed the people of Assam and the entire North Eastern states," he added.</p>

<p>Senior Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde, who was appointed as an interlocutor by the Supreme Court to talk to the anti-CAA protestors at Shaheen Bagh in 2019-2020, reating to the announcement said, "it was surprising that the government did not find time earlier to notify the CAA rules. The Act has been challenged in the Supreme Court, there has been no specific stay, the matter hasn't been heard for some time. In the meanwhile, the rules have been notified and I am sure that in respect of the implementation of rules, there will be appropriate petitions filed. It is possible that the government wanted to notify these rules before the Model Code of Conduct comes into play."</p>

<p>AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "give asylum to anyone who is persecuted but citizenship must not be based on religion or nationality. The govt should explain why it kept these rules pending for five years &amp; why it’s implementing it now. Along with NPR-NRC, CAA is meant to only target Muslims, it serves no other purpose."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Aap chronology samajhiye, pehle election season aayega phir CAA rules aayenge. Our objections to CAA remain the same. CAA is divisive &amp; based on Godse’s thought that wanted to reduce Muslims to second-class citizens.<br />
<br />
Give asylum to anyone who is persecuted but citizenship must…</p>
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) <a href="https://twitter.com/asadowaisi/status/1767182248246178025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reacting to the government's announcement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that it was ruling BJP's "publicity for elections" and if the rules "deprive" people of their rights, her party will fight against them.</p>

<p>"Let me see the rules first. The notification has not been issued yet. If people are deprived of their rights under the rules, then we will fight against it. This is BJP's publicity for elections, it is nothing else," the Trinamool Congress chief said at a press conference in Kolkata.</p>

<p>AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Central government for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, claiming the law is based on Mahatma Gandhi's murderer Nathuram Godse's thought and alleged that it will reduce Muslims to second-class citizens.</p>

<p>Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the BJP for releasing the CAA notification and claimed that it&nbsp;was its “game of distraction”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, security was beefed up in the national capital Delhi and across the country after the announcement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rules for implementation of this citizenship act will facilitate the granting of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in December 2019, and it got the president's assent. The law, however, could not come into effect so far as rules have to be notified for its implementation.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Indian government on Monday (Mar 11) announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act by notifying its rules but the opposition was quick to slam the government over the decision and linked it to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls due in April-May.

The Indian government on Monday (Mar 11) announced the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act by notifying its rules but the opposition was quick to slam the government over the decision and linked it to the upcoming Lok Sabha polls due in April-May. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to the social media platform X and termed the announcement as the BJP's latest move to polarise the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam. "It has taken four years and three months for the Modi Government to notify the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act that was passed by the Parliament in December 2019. The Prime Minister claims that his Government works in a business-like and time-bound manner. The time taken to notify the rules for the CAA is yet another demonstration of the Prime Minister’s blatant lies," he wrote. "After seeking nine extensions for the notification of the rules, the timing right before the elections is evidently designed to polarise the elections, especially in West Bengal and Assam. It also appears to be an attempt to manage the headlines after the Supreme Court’s severe strictures on the Electoral Bonds Scandal," he added. दिसंबर 2019 में संसद द्वारा पारित नागरिकता संशोधन अधिनियम के नियमों को अधिसूचित करने में मोदी सरकार को चार साल और तीन महीने लग गए। प्रधानमंत्री दावा करते हैं कि उनकी सरकार बिल्कुल प्रोफेशनल ढंग से और समयबद्ध तरीक़े से काम करती है। सीएए के नियमों को अधिसूचित करने में लिया गया इतना… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 11, 2024 × Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioned why the government was announcing the decision now after ten years. "Why did they delay it so much, and if they are implementing it, why not after the elections? Their sole objective is to make every issue a Hindu-Muslim issue. This goes against our Constitution," he said while talking to reporters. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacting to the announcement said that it was aimed at "disquieting the nation". "The Central Government's notification of the Rules to the Citizenship Amendment Act in the wake of the elections is aimed at disquieting the nation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the notification regarding the CAA, just ahead of the announcement of the elections to the Lok Sabha. This is to divide the people, incite communal sentiments and undermine the fundamental principles of the Constitution. This move to stratify Indian citizens who have equal rights, must be opposed unitedly," he wrote in a post on X. The Central Government's notification of the Rules to the Citizenship Amendment Act in the wake of the elections is aimed at disquieting the nation. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the notification regarding the CAA, just ahead of the announcement of the elections to the… — Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) March 11, 2024 × Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that centre's decision to notify CAA is against country and that people would respondto it in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. "After ruling the country for ten years, Modi government has brought CAA before the elections. At a time when the poor and middle class are groaning due to inflation and unemployed youth are struggling from door to door for employment, instead of solving those real issues, these people have brought CAA," the Delhi CM wrote in a post on X. दस साल देश पर राज करने के बाद एन चुनाव के पहले मोदी सरकार CAA लेकर आयी है। ऐसे वक़्त जब गरीब और मध्यम वर्ग महंगाई से कराह रहा है और बेरोज़गार युवा रोज़गार के लिए दर दर की ठोकरें खा रहा है, उन असली मुद्दों का समाधान करने की बजाय ये लोग CAA लाये हैं। कह रहे हैं कि तीन पड़ोसी देशों… — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 11, 2024 × "This is strongly opposed especially by the people of Assam and the entire North-East India, who have been victims of migration from Bangladesh and whose language and culture are in danger today. BJP has betrayed the people of Assam and the entire North Eastern states," he added. Senior Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde, who was appointed as an interlocutor by the Supreme Court to talk to the anti-CAA protestors at Shaheen Bagh in 2019-2020, reating to the announcement said, "it was surprising that the government did not find time earlier to notify the CAA rules. The Act has been challenged in the Supreme Court, there has been no specific stay, the matter hasn't been heard for some time. In the meanwhile, the rules have been notified and I am sure that in respect of the implementation of rules, there will be appropriate petitions filed. It is possible that the government wanted to notify these rules before the Model Code of Conduct comes into play." AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "give asylum to anyone who is persecuted but citizenship must not be based on religion or nationality. The govt should explain why it kept these rules pending for five years & why it’s implementing it now. Along with NPR-NRC, CAA is meant to only target Muslims, it serves no other purpose." Aap chronology samajhiye, pehle election season aayega phir CAA rules aayenge. Our objections to CAA remain the same. CAA is divisive & based on Godse’s thought that wanted to reduce Muslims to second-class citizens. Give asylum to anyone who is persecuted but citizenship must… — Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) March 11, 2024 × Reacting to the government's announcement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that it was ruling BJP's "publicity for elections" and if the rules "deprive" people of their rights, her party will fight against them. "Let me see the rules first. The notification has not been issued yet. If people are deprived of their rights under the rules, then we will fight against it. This is BJP's publicity for elections, it is nothing else," the Trinamool Congress chief said at a press conference in Kolkata. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Central government for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, claiming the law is based on Mahatma Gandhi's murderer Nathuram Godse's thought and alleged that it will reduce Muslims to second-class citizens. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the BJP for releasing the CAA notification and claimed that it was its “game of distraction”. Meanwhile, security was beefed up in the national capital Delhi and across the country after the announcement. The rules for implementation of this citizenship act will facilitate the granting of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in December 2019, and it got the president's assent. The law, however, could not come into effect so far as rules have to be notified for its implementation. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Opposition slams decision after Centre notifies CAA rules ahead of polls

Indian government announces implementation of CAA ahead of Lok Sabha Elections

The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced the rules for implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

BREAKING: Indian govt announces CAA implementation, 'CAA to pave way for the persecuted'

The rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 are ready with the central government and will be notified "much before" the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections, an official aware of the development told news agency.

CAA rules to be notified before poll dates are out, to specify required documents, says report

India: CAA rules to be notified 'before' Lok Sabha polls: Reports

The Central government could notify the rules for the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) before the Election Commission of India (ECI) implements the Model Code of Conduct before the Lok Sabha elections. Watch in for more details!

India: Centre to implement CAA rules before Lok Sabha polls announcement

India: CAA rules to be notified before Lok Sabha polls announcement

CAA rules in March? | CAA fastracks process of acquiring Indian citrizenship for some

<p>The guidelines for the implementation of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA), designed to expedite citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, are expected to be issued before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections comes into force.</p>

<p><strong>Also read</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-caa-will-be-put-into-effect-prior-to-the-lok-sabha-elections-says-amit-shah-688930">CAA will be implemented before upcoming Lok Sabha elections, says Amit Shah</a></p>

<p>The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) becomes enforceable immediately after the announcement of the election schedule, anticipated in the next fortnight.</p>

<p>Insiders familiar with the matter suggest that the rules for the CAA are likely to be released before the MCC comes into effect.</p>

<p>Upon the issuance of the CAA rules, the Modi government will initiate the process of granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who arrived in India by December 31, 2014.</p>

<p>Although the CAA was passed in December 2019 and received presidential assent, its implementation has been delayed pending the formulation of necessary rules.</p>

<p>Massive protests erupted in various parts of the country following the passage of the CAA by Parliament, resulting in over a hundred casualties during the protests or police actions.</p>

<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs has developed an online portal to streamline the application process for the convenience of applicants.</p>

<p>Applicants will be required to declare the year of their entry into India without travel documents, and no additional documents will be requested, as per an official statement.</p>

<p>The CAA provides benefits to undocumented minorities from three neighboring countries, and the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, emphasised its implementation, stating that it is the law of the land.</p>

<p>The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, has consistently opposed the CAA, and it was a significant electoral promise for the BJP in the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in West Bengal.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra says, 'CAA rules will be framed in 2024'</strong></p>

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<p>As per the Manual on Parliamentary Work, rules for any legislation should have been framed within six months of presidential assent, or an extension should be sought from the Committees on Subordinate Legislation in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The home ministry has been periodically seeking extensions since 2020.</p>

<p>In the past two years, district magistrates and home secretaries in nine states have been granted the authority to confer Indian citizenship on Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan under the Citizenship Act, 1955.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/caa-rules-may-be-notified-much-before-lok-sabha-elections-report-676226">CAA rules can be notified ‘much before’ Lok Sabha elections, says report</a></p>

<p>The annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs for 2021-22 indicates that from April 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, a total of 1,414 foreigners belonging to these non-Muslim minority communities were granted Indian citizenship by registration or naturalisation.</p>

<p>These states include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Notably, authorities in districts of Assam and West Bengal, sensitive political regions, have not yet been conferred this authority.</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The guidelines for the implementation of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA), designed to expedite citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, are expected to be issued before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections comes into force.

The guidelines for the implementation of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA), designed to expedite citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, are expected to be issued before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections comes into force. Also read: CAA will be implemented before upcoming Lok Sabha elections, says Amit Shah The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) becomes enforceable immediately after the announcement of the election schedule, anticipated in the next fortnight. Insiders familiar with the matter suggest that the rules for the CAA are likely to be released before the MCC comes into effect. Upon the issuance of the CAA rules, the Modi government will initiate the process of granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who arrived in India by December 31, 2014. Although the CAA was passed in December 2019 and received presidential assent, its implementation has been delayed pending the formulation of necessary rules. Massive protests erupted in various parts of the country following the passage of the CAA by Parliament, resulting in over a hundred casualties during the protests or police actions. The Ministry of Home Affairs has developed an online portal to streamline the application process for the convenience of applicants. Applicants will be required to declare the year of their entry into India without travel documents, and no additional documents will be requested, as per an official statement. The CAA provides benefits to undocumented minorities from three neighboring countries, and the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, emphasised its implementation, stating that it is the law of the land. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Mamata Banerjee, has consistently opposed the CAA, and it was a significant electoral promise for the BJP in the last Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in West Bengal. Watch: India Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra says, 'CAA rules will be framed in 2024' × As per the Manual on Parliamentary Work, rules for any legislation should have been framed within six months of presidential assent, or an extension should be sought from the Committees on Subordinate Legislation in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The home ministry has been periodically seeking extensions since 2020. In the past two years, district magistrates and home secretaries in nine states have been granted the authority to confer Indian citizenship on Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan under the Citizenship Act, 1955. Also read: CAA rules can be notified ‘much before’ Lok Sabha elections, says report The annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs for 2021-22 indicates that from April 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021, a total of 1,414 foreigners belonging to these non-Muslim minority communities were granted Indian citizenship by registration or naturalisation. These states include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Notably, authorities in districts of Assam and West Bengal, sensitive political regions, have not yet been conferred this authority. (With inputs from agencies)

Govt to notify CAA rules before model code of conduct for polls comes into effect in India: Sources

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni on Sunday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will definitely be implemented in the upcoming months adding that the legislative committee of Rajya Sabha has set the deadline to frame rules by March 30 in 2024.

Citizenship Law implementation in India soon, CAA becomes focal point before 2024 elections

Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni on Sunday said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will definitely be implemented in the upcoming months adding that the legislative committee of Rajya Sabha has set the deadline to frame rules by March 30 in 2024. Watch to know more!

India: 'CAA to be implemented before 2024 elections,' says Home Minister Amit Shah

India: Home Minister Amit Shah says, 'CAA will be implemented before 2024 elections'

<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Saturday that the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be put into effect prior to this year's Lok Sabha elections after the relevant regulations are issued.<br />
<br />
Lambasting the opposition,&nbsp;Amit Shah said at an event in New Delhi, "They're misleading and inciting our Muslim brothers (to oppose the CAA).&nbsp;Only people who fled persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh and arrived in India are intended to be granted citizenship under the CAA. The purpose of it is not to take away someone's Indian citizenship."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Union Minister predicted that the NDA will win over 400 seats and the BJP would win 370 seats in the next elections, allowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to head the government for a record three terms. Shah asserted that there is no suspense over the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls and even the Congress and other opposition parties have realised that they will again have to sit on the opposition benches.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-home-minister-amit-shah-reiterates-no-one-can-stop-implementation-of-caa-674070">Home Minister Amit Shah reiterates ‘no one can stop’ implementation of CAA</a></p>

<p>"We revoked Article 370 (of the Constitution, which granted the former state of Jammu and Kashmir a special status). Therefore, it is our belief that the nation's voters will grant the BJP 370 seats and the NDA nearly 400 seats," Shah added.</p>

<p>The home minister indicated that more parties might join the ruling coalition when asked if the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD)&nbsp;led by Jayant Choudhary, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and a few other regional parties could join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).&nbsp;The BJP "believes in family planning but not in politics", indicating that more parties may join the coalition.&nbsp;When pressed further on SAD, he said, "Talks are going on but nothing has been finalised."</p>

<p>Shah stated that the election of 2024 will be between development and those who offer just platitudes, rather than between the NDA and the opposition coalition in India.</p>

<p>When asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, he responded that the Nehru-Gandhi scion had no right to carry out the march because his party was in charge of the nation's 1947 partition.<br />
<br />
Shah explained that the timeliness of the government's white paper before Parliament was essential, stating that the nation had a right to know about the devastation the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Congress, left behind when it was voted out of power by the people in 2014.</p>

<p>"The economy was in rough shape in 2014. Scams were everywhere. There were no foreign investments coming in. The world would have received the wrong impression if we had brought out a white paper at that moment."</p>

<p>"However, ten years later, our administration has brought in foreign investment, revitalised the economy, and eradicated all corruption. Thus, it is the appropriate moment to release the white paper," he stated.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Saturday that the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be put into effect prior to this year's Lok Sabha elections after the relevant regulations are issued.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Saturday that the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be put into effect prior to this year's Lok Sabha elections after the relevant regulations are issued. Lambasting the opposition, Amit Shah said at an event in New Delhi, "They're misleading and inciting our Muslim brothers (to oppose the CAA). Only people who fled persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Bangladesh and arrived in India are intended to be granted citizenship under the CAA. The purpose of it is not to take away someone's Indian citizenship." The Union Minister predicted that the NDA will win over 400 seats and the BJP would win 370 seats in the next elections, allowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to head the government for a record three terms. Shah asserted that there is no suspense over the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls and even the Congress and other opposition parties have realised that they will again have to sit on the opposition benches. Also Read: Home Minister Amit Shah reiterates ‘no one can stop’ implementation of CAA "We revoked Article 370 (of the Constitution, which granted the former state of Jammu and Kashmir a special status). Therefore, it is our belief that the nation's voters will grant the BJP 370 seats and the NDA nearly 400 seats," Shah added. The home minister indicated that more parties might join the ruling coalition when asked if the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) led by Jayant Choudhary, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and a few other regional parties could join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP "believes in family planning but not in politics", indicating that more parties may join the coalition. When pressed further on SAD, he said, "Talks are going on but nothing has been finalised." Shah stated that the election of 2024 will be between development and those who offer just platitudes, rather than between the NDA and the opposition coalition in India. When asked about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, he responded that the Nehru-Gandhi scion had no right to carry out the march because his party was in charge of the nation's 1947 partition. Shah explained that the timeliness of the government's white paper before Parliament was essential, stating that the nation had a right to know about the devastation the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Congress, left behind when it was voted out of power by the people in 2014. "The economy was in rough shape in 2014. Scams were everywhere. There were no foreign investments coming in. The world would have received the wrong impression if we had brought out a white paper at that moment." "However, ten years later, our administration has brought in foreign investment, revitalised the economy, and eradicated all corruption. Thus, it is the appropriate moment to release the white paper," he stated. (With inputs from agencies)

India: CAA will be implemented before upcoming Lok Sabha elections, says Amit Shah

A BJP leader has stirred controversy by saying that the highly-debated CAA can be implemented in one week.

Controversy over India's Citizenship Amendment Act

<p>The contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented across India within a week, said an Indian minister.</p>

<p>According to a report by the news agency PTI, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Monday (Jan 29) that that swift implementation of the legislation would be made within seven days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The CAA will be implemented very soon. It will be implemented within seven days. This is my guarantee," he said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">VIDEO | "Ram Mandir has been inaugurated (in Ayodhya), and within the next seven days, the CAA - Citizenship (Amendment) Act - will be implemented across the country. This is my guarantee. Not just in West Bengal, the CAA would be implemented in every state of India within a… <a href="https://t.co/f5Ergu5TG3">pic.twitter.com/f5Ergu5TG3</a></p>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1751824400330936583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>On Sunday, addressing a rally in West Bengal's&nbsp;South 24 Parganas, Thakur said, "Ram Mandir has been inaugurated (in Ayodhya), and within the next seven days, the CAA - Citizenship (Amendment) Act - will be implemented across the country. This is my guarantee. Not just in West Bengal, the CAA would be implemented in every state of India within a week."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-home-minister-amit-shah-reiterates-no-one-can-stop-implementation-of-caa-674070">Home Minister Amit Shah reiterates ‘no one can stop’ implementation of CAA</a></strong></p>

<p>The CAA was enacted by the Modi government in 2019. It aims at granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before Dec&nbsp;31, 2014.</p>

<h2><strong>CAA rules to be notified before dates poll are announced?</strong></h2>

<p>However, the legislation triggered nationwide protests which led to bouts of violence.</p>

<p>Critics of the CAA have said that it is discriminatory against Muslims and in&nbsp;violation of the spirit of India's secular constitution.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/caa-rules-may-be-notified-much-before-lok-sabha-elections-report-676226">CAA rules can be notified ‘much before’ Lok Sabha election, says report</a></strong></p>

<p>Shantanu's remarks come weeks after PTI reported that rules of the CAA could be notified much before the dates of the Lok Sabha election were announced.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are going to issue the rules for the CAA soon. Once the rules are issued, the law can be implemented and those eligible can be granted Indian citizenship," a government functionary told the news agency.</p>

<h2><strong>'Attempting political gimmickry':&nbsp;TMC slams minister's remarks</strong></h2>

<p>The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in eastern state of West Bengal slammed&nbsp;Shantanu Thakur's remarks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had clearly said that CAA won't be implemented in West Bengal. The BJP leaders are attempting political gimmickry by making such false promises before the Lok Sabha elections," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on Monday, PTI reported.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;CAA rules will be framed by March 2024 confirms, Union minister</strong></p>

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<p>In December last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah&nbsp;reiterated that the implementation of CAA is inevitable as it is the law of the land.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented across India within a week, said an Indian minister. According to a report by the news agency PTI, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Monday (Jan 29) that that swift implementation of the legislation would be made within seven days.

The contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented across India within a week, said an Indian minister. According to a report by the news agency PTI, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur said on Monday (Jan 29) that that swift implementation of the legislation would be made within seven days. "The CAA will be implemented very soon. It will be implemented within seven days. This is my guarantee," he said. VIDEO | "Ram Mandir has been inaugurated (in Ayodhya), and within the next seven days, the CAA - Citizenship (Amendment) Act - will be implemented across the country. This is my guarantee. Not just in West Bengal, the CAA would be implemented in every state of India within a… pic.twitter.com/f5Ergu5TG3 — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 29, 2024 × On Sunday, addressing a rally in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas, Thakur said, "Ram Mandir has been inaugurated (in Ayodhya), and within the next seven days, the CAA - Citizenship (Amendment) Act - will be implemented across the country. This is my guarantee. Not just in West Bengal, the CAA would be implemented in every state of India within a week." Also read | Home Minister Amit Shah reiterates ‘no one can stop’ implementation of CAA The CAA was enacted by the Modi government in 2019. It aims at granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before Dec 31, 2014. CAA rules to be notified before dates poll are announced? However, the legislation triggered nationwide protests which led to bouts of violence. Critics of the CAA have said that it is discriminatory against Muslims and in violation of the spirit of India's secular constitution. Also read | CAA rules can be notified ‘much before’ Lok Sabha election, says report Shantanu's remarks come weeks after PTI reported that rules of the CAA could be notified much before the dates of the Lok Sabha election were announced. "We are going to issue the rules for the CAA soon. Once the rules are issued, the law can be implemented and those eligible can be granted Indian citizenship," a government functionary told the news agency. 'Attempting political gimmickry': TMC slams minister's remarks The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in eastern state of West Bengal slammed Shantanu Thakur's remarks. "Our party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had clearly said that CAA won't be implemented in West Bengal. The BJP leaders are attempting political gimmickry by making such false promises before the Lok Sabha elections," TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on Monday, PTI reported. Also watch | CAA rules will be framed by March 2024 confirms, Union minister × In December last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that the implementation of CAA is inevitable as it is the law of the land. (With inputs from agencies)

CAA: India citizenship law will be implemented within a week, says minister Shantanu Thakur

<p>Rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 (CAA) are set to be notified "much before" Lok Sabha elections in India are announced, reported Press Trust of India (PTI) citing an unnamed senior government functionary.</p>

<p>"We are going to issue the rules for the CAA soon. Once the rules are issued, the law can be implemented and those eligible can be granted Indian citizenship," the functionary said, as quoted by PTI.</p>

<p>The act was brought by Narendra Modi government. According to the provisions in the act, persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014 would be granted Indian nationality. The non-Muslim communities in the purview of the law are - Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians.</p>

<p>CAA was passed by the Indian parliament in December 2019 following which it received presidential assent.</p>

<p>Protests had broken out in India over the act.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Impasse over choice of Ram Lalla idol: Temple trust may decide on black or white idol by January 14</strong></p>

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<p>In order for the act to be implemented, rules for the same need to be notified. This is something which has been delayed by more than four years.</p>

<p>India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asserted last month that nothing could stop implementation of the CAA since it is the law of the land.</p>

<p>West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposes CAA. Shah has accused her of misleading people.</p>

<p>The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believes that CAA and the debate surrounding it helped in boosting party's profile in multiple elections in West Bengal.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-narendra-modi-launches-projects-worth-24-billion-in-tamil-nadu-675937">Indian PM Narendra Modi launches projects worth $2.4 billion in Tamil Nadu</a></strong></p>

<p>India's home ministry has been taking regular extensions to notify CAA rules since as per parliamentary rules such an extension from Committees on Subordinate Legislation of both houses needs to be obtained in case rules for a legislation are not formed within six months of presidential assent.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-to-assist-tanzania-in-raising-mechanised-infantry-battalion-676103">India to assist Tanzania in raising mechanised infantry battalion</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, the government has taken steps towards ultimate implementation of the law. more than 30 district magistrates alongwith home secretaries of nine states have been given powers to grant Indian citizenships to non-Muslim minorities from the three countries.</p>

<p>However, none of the authorities in Assam and West Bengal have been empowered as the issue of CAA is politically sensitive there.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 (CAA) are set to be notified "much before" Lok Sabha elections in India are announced, reported Press Trust of India (PTI) citing an unnamed senior government functionary.

Rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of 2019 (CAA) are set to be notified "much before" Lok Sabha elections in India are announced, reported Press Trust of India (PTI) citing an unnamed senior government functionary. "We are going to issue the rules for the CAA soon. Once the rules are issued, the law can be implemented and those eligible can be granted Indian citizenship," the functionary said, as quoted by PTI. The act was brought by Narendra Modi government. According to the provisions in the act, persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014 would be granted Indian nationality. The non-Muslim communities in the purview of the law are - Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians. CAA was passed by the Indian parliament in December 2019 following which it received presidential assent. Protests had broken out in India over the act. Watch | Impasse over choice of Ram Lalla idol: Temple trust may decide on black or white idol by January 14 × In order for the act to be implemented, rules for the same need to be notified. This is something which has been delayed by more than four years. India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah had asserted last month that nothing could stop implementation of the CAA since it is the law of the land. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposes CAA. Shah has accused her of misleading people. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believes that CAA and the debate surrounding it helped in boosting party's profile in multiple elections in West Bengal. Also Read | Indian PM Narendra Modi launches projects worth $2.4 billion in Tamil Nadu India's home ministry has been taking regular extensions to notify CAA rules since as per parliamentary rules such an extension from Committees on Subordinate Legislation of both houses needs to be obtained in case rules for a legislation are not formed within six months of presidential assent. Also Read | India to assist Tanzania in raising mechanised infantry battalion Meanwhile, the government has taken steps towards ultimate implementation of the law. more than 30 district magistrates alongwith home secretaries of nine states have been given powers to grant Indian citizenships to non-Muslim minorities from the three countries. However, none of the authorities in Assam and West Bengal have been empowered as the issue of CAA is politically sensitive there. (With inputs from agencies)

India: CAA rules can be notified ‘much before’ Lok Sabha elections, says report

CAA rules will be framed by March 2024 confirms Union minister

India Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra says, 'CAA rules will be framed in 2024'

<p>The popularity of RRR in the West is immense. And the popularity has opened doors for the film's director SS Rajamouli who has been signed with the American talent agency CAA (Creative Arts Agency).&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In a coup for the agency, CAA has signed in-demand Indian filmmaker SS Rajamouli," reported Deadline.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
SS Rajamouli's RRR was released on March 24 this year and reportedly earned over $132 million at the global box office. The film became India's third highest-grossing film of all time.<br />
<br />
RRR stars Ram Charan, Jr NTR in lead roles and is set in pre-Independent India. Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt are in extended cameos. The film is reportedly the only non-English-language film to trend globally for ten consecutive weeks on Netflix.<br />
<br />
Rajamouli's other films — the 'Baahubali' series too were global hits and earned popularity not just in India but outside as well. The film was considered as a frontrunner for India's official entry to Oscars 2023 but lost out to Pan Nalin's 'Chhelo Show'. The makers reportedly are now planning to enter the Oscar race separately.&nbsp;RRR was a fictional story set in the 1920s pre-independence era and narrated the story of two real-life heroes and well-known revolutionaries – Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rajamouli will next be working on an action-adventure with Mahesh Babu and Pooja Hegde.&nbsp;</p>


The popularity of RRR in the West is immense. And the popularity has opened doors for the film's director SS Rajamouli who has been signed with the American talent agency CAA (Creative Arts Agency).

The popularity of RRR in the West is immense. And the popularity has opened doors for the film's director SS Rajamouli who has been signed with the American talent agency CAA (Creative Arts Agency). "In a coup for the agency, CAA has signed in-demand Indian filmmaker SS Rajamouli," reported Deadline. SS Rajamouli's RRR was released on March 24 this year and reportedly earned over $132 million at the global box office. The film became India's third highest-grossing film of all time. RRR stars Ram Charan, Jr NTR in lead roles and is set in pre-Independent India. Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt are in extended cameos. The film is reportedly the only non-English-language film to trend globally for ten consecutive weeks on Netflix. Rajamouli's other films — the 'Baahubali' series too were global hits and earned popularity not just in India but outside as well. The film was considered as a frontrunner for India's official entry to Oscars 2023 but lost out to Pan Nalin's 'Chhelo Show'. The makers reportedly are now planning to enter the Oscar race separately. RRR was a fictional story set in the 1920s pre-independence era and narrated the story of two real-life heroes and well-known revolutionaries – Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem. Rajamouli will next be working on an action-adventure with Mahesh Babu and Pooja Hegde.

Hollywood talent agency CAA signs SS Rajamouli days after RRR's Oscar snub

From coronavirus to CAA: Top searches on Google in 2020

<p>BJP national president J P Nadda Monday said the execution of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has been delayed due to the pandemic and asserted that the law will be implemented soon.</p>

<p>Nadda, who was speaking at a meeting of social groups of north Bengal, accused the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal of indulging in "divide and rule politics" in the state to serve the political interests of her party - the TMC, unlike BJP which works for the development of all.</p>

<p>All of you will get the benefits of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. It has been passed in Parliament. We are committed to it," he said at the meeting.</p>

<p>"Due to COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of CAA got delayed. But as the situation is slowing improving, work has started and rules are now being framed. It (CAA) will be implemented very soon," Nadda added.</p>

<p>He exuded confidence that the BJP will form the next government in West Bengal after the state assembly polls in 2021 as the people of the state are fed up with the violence and cut-money culture of the TMC government.</p>

<p>Nadda, who is on a day-long visit to take stock of organisational matters ahead of 2021 assembly elections, held separate meetings with BJP leaders of north Bengal region and social and religious groups.</p>


BJP national president J P Nadda Monday said the execution of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has been delayed due to the pandemic and asserted that the law will be implemented soon.

BJP national president J P Nadda Monday said the execution of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has been delayed due to the pandemic and asserted that the law will be implemented soon. Nadda, who was speaking at a meeting of social groups of north Bengal, accused the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal of indulging in "divide and rule politics" in the state to serve the political interests of her party - the TMC, unlike BJP which works for the development of all. All of you will get the benefits of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. It has been passed in Parliament. We are committed to it," he said at the meeting. "Due to COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of CAA got delayed. But as the situation is slowing improving, work has started and rules are now being framed. It (CAA) will be implemented very soon," Nadda added. He exuded confidence that the BJP will form the next government in West Bengal after the state assembly polls in 2021 as the people of the state are fed up with the violence and cut-money culture of the TMC government. Nadda, who is on a day-long visit to take stock of organisational matters ahead of 2021 assembly elections, held separate meetings with BJP leaders of north Bengal region and social and religious groups.

CAA delayed due to COVID-19, to be implemented soon: BJP national president J P Nadda

<p>CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat claimed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday that a cognisable offence is made out against Union Minister Anurag Thakur and his BJP colleague and MP Pravesh Verma and an FIR should be lodged against them for their alleged hate speeches in relation to anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh here.</p>

<p>Karat has challenged a trial court's August 26 order dismissing her plea seeking lodging of FIR against the two leaders on the grounds that the requisite sanction from the competent authority, the central government, was not obtained.</p>

<p>Justice Yogesh Khanna, after hearing the submissions, asked the counsel for Karat and Delhi Police to file relevant judgements in support of their contentions.</p>

<p>The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 2.</p>

<p>Advocate Richa Kapoor, appearing for the police, questioned maintainability of the petition.</p>

<p>Advocate Siddarth Aggarwal, representing Karat, said the complaint was kept pending before the trial court for 9 months and thereafter, the magistrate rejected the plea and did not even go into the merits of the case.</p>

<p>"The proposition adopted by the magistrate is in the teeth of many judgements of the Supreme Court. The magistrate has refused to exercise the jurisdiction which the law vests on him," he contended.</p>

<p>He added that a cognisable offence is made out and they were only asking the police to investigate the matter.<br />
CPI(M) leaders Brinda Karat and KM Tewari had filed the complaint before the trial court seeking a direction to the Parliament Street Police Station to register an FIR against Thakur and Verma.</p>

<p>However, the trial court said that the complaint was not sustainable without the prior sanction.</p>

<p>Karat, in her petition in the high court, sought quashing of the trial court's order and also a direction for expeditious disposal of applications under Section 156(3) CrPC (power of a magistrate to direct the police to conduct investigation in respect of a cognisable offence) and that technical objections and maintainability be decided at the threshold to avoid prejudice to the complainant and wastage of judicial time.</p>

<p>The plea, filed through advocate Tara Narula and Adit S Pujari, said the relevant provision of CrPC demonstrates that the sanction to be taken thereunder is a sanction for taking cognisance.</p>

<p>"It is settled law that the stage of cognisance does not arise at a time when directions under Section 156(3) CrPC are given, and as such, no sanction is required under either Section 195 or 196 CrPC for the registration of an FIR and/or for investigation," the plea said.</p>

<p>It contended when the State and the police have pointedly excused the speeches of the accused and other persons, the petitioners submit that the only recourse available to them is judicial.</p>

<p>"The petitioners' judicial recourse has been barred by the ACMM without considering that the very State that is supportive of the accused persons (who are sitting Members of Parliament) would function as the Sanctioning Authority.</p>

<p>"Public policy and the interest of justice demand that this court forms a view on the content of the speeches given by the accused on the basis of settled law and opine whether cognisable offence is made out thereupon,? it said and sought lodging of an FIR on the complaint.</p>

<p>The plea said they had filed the complaint over 9 months ago and the registration of FIR is already extremely delayed despite cognisable offences being made out.</p>

<p>Karat had claimed in her complaint that 'Thakur and Verma had sought to incite people as a result of which three incidents of firing took place at two different protest sites in Delhi'</p>

<p>The complaint had sought lodging of FIRs under various sections, including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.), 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the IPC.</p>

<p>It had also sought action under other sections of the IPC, including 298 (uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).</p>

<p>The maximum punishment for the offences is jail term for seven years.</p>

<p>Karat had approached the court after her written complaints to the Commissioner of Police and the SHO, Parliament Street, failed to elicit any response.</p>

<p>The CPI (M) leader had mentioned that at the Rithala rally here, Thakur, the minister of state for finance and corporate affairs, had on January 27 egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan ? ?shoot the traitors? ? after lashing out at anti-CAA protesters.</p>

<p>In the complaint, she had mentioned that Verma had on January 28 allegedly made incendiary comments against the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat claimed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday that a cognisable offence is made out against Union Minister Anurag Thakur and his BJP colleague and MP Pravesh Verma and an FIR should be lodged against them for their alleged hate speeches in relation to anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh here.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat claimed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday that a cognisable offence is made out against Union Minister Anurag Thakur and his BJP colleague and MP Pravesh Verma and an FIR should be lodged against them for their alleged hate speeches in relation to anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh here. Karat has challenged a trial court's August 26 order dismissing her plea seeking lodging of FIR against the two leaders on the grounds that the requisite sanction from the competent authority, the central government, was not obtained. Justice Yogesh Khanna, after hearing the submissions, asked the counsel for Karat and Delhi Police to file relevant judgements in support of their contentions. The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 2. Advocate Richa Kapoor, appearing for the police, questioned maintainability of the petition. Advocate Siddarth Aggarwal, representing Karat, said the complaint was kept pending before the trial court for 9 months and thereafter, the magistrate rejected the plea and did not even go into the merits of the case. "The proposition adopted by the magistrate is in the teeth of many judgements of the Supreme Court. The magistrate has refused to exercise the jurisdiction which the law vests on him," he contended. He added that a cognisable offence is made out and they were only asking the police to investigate the matter. CPI(M) leaders Brinda Karat and KM Tewari had filed the complaint before the trial court seeking a direction to the Parliament Street Police Station to register an FIR against Thakur and Verma. However, the trial court said that the complaint was not sustainable without the prior sanction. Karat, in her petition in the high court, sought quashing of the trial court's order and also a direction for expeditious disposal of applications under Section 156(3) CrPC (power of a magistrate to direct the police to conduct investigation in respect of a cognisable offence) and that technical objections and maintainability be decided at the threshold to avoid prejudice to the complainant and wastage of judicial time. The plea, filed through advocate Tara Narula and Adit S Pujari, said the relevant provision of CrPC demonstrates that the sanction to be taken thereunder is a sanction for taking cognisance. "It is settled law that the stage of cognisance does not arise at a time when directions under Section 156(3) CrPC are given, and as such, no sanction is required under either Section 195 or 196 CrPC for the registration of an FIR and/or for investigation," the plea said. It contended when the State and the police have pointedly excused the speeches of the accused and other persons, the petitioners submit that the only recourse available to them is judicial. "The petitioners' judicial recourse has been barred by the ACMM without considering that the very State that is supportive of the accused persons (who are sitting Members of Parliament) would function as the Sanctioning Authority. "Public policy and the interest of justice demand that this court forms a view on the content of the speeches given by the accused on the basis of settled law and opine whether cognisable offence is made out thereupon,? it said and sought lodging of an FIR on the complaint. The plea said they had filed the complaint over 9 months ago and the registration of FIR is already extremely delayed despite cognisable offences being made out. Karat had claimed in her complaint that 'Thakur and Verma had sought to incite people as a result of which three incidents of firing took place at two different protest sites in Delhi' The complaint had sought lodging of FIRs under various sections, including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.), 153-B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the IPC. It had also sought action under other sections of the IPC, including 298 (uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation). The maximum punishment for the offences is jail term for seven years. Karat had approached the court after her written complaints to the Commissioner of Police and the SHO, Parliament Street, failed to elicit any response. The CPI (M) leader had mentioned that at the Rithala rally here, Thakur, the minister of state for finance and corporate affairs, had on January 27 egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan ? ?shoot the traitors? ? after lashing out at anti-CAA protesters. In the complaint, she had mentioned that Verma had on January 28 allegedly made incendiary comments against the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh.

Brinda Karat urges HC to order lodging of FIR against Thakur, Verma for hate speech

<p>The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday ruled that public spaces and roads cannot be occupied indefinitely by protestors and that dissent and democracy must go hand in hand.</p>

<p>A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul passed the verdict on batch of petitions against the anti-CAA protests in the national capital's Shaheen Bagh.</p>

<p>The court also said that authorities must ensure that such spaces are cleared.</p>

<p>“Dissent and democracy must go hand in hand but protests should be confined to designated areas,” said Justice SK Kaul.</p>

<p>The top court order has come on pleas seeking removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh area of the national capital that witnessed months of occupation of an arterial road, causing inconvenience to the commuters between Delhi and Noida.</p>

<p>Reserving the verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday had said that the right to protest needs to be balanced with the mobility of people on a public road, as a person has a right to move from one place to another and this right cannot be prejudiced by the blocking of public road to hold protest.</p>

<p>A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Krishna Murari and Aniruddha Bose took up the matter in September after a gap of nearly seven months.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday ruled that public spaces and roads cannot be occupied indefinitely by protestors and that dissent and democracy must go hand in hand.

The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday ruled that public spaces and roads cannot be occupied indefinitely by protestors and that dissent and democracy must go hand in hand. A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul passed the verdict on batch of petitions against the anti-CAA protests in the national capital's Shaheen Bagh. The court also said that authorities must ensure that such spaces are cleared. “Dissent and democracy must go hand in hand but protests should be confined to designated areas,” said Justice SK Kaul. The top court order has come on pleas seeking removal of protesters from Shaheen Bagh area of the national capital that witnessed months of occupation of an arterial road, causing inconvenience to the commuters between Delhi and Noida. Reserving the verdict, the Supreme Court on Monday had said that the right to protest needs to be balanced with the mobility of people on a public road, as a person has a right to move from one place to another and this right cannot be prejudiced by the blocking of public road to hold protest. A bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Krishna Murari and Aniruddha Bose took up the matter in September after a gap of nearly seven months. (With inputs from agencies)

Public places can't be occupied indefinitely by protesters: Supreme Court on Shaheen Bagh

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