Even after one year of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) rules, it has not been clear how many people have been provided Indian citizenship under this law. The Union Home Ministry (MHA) has refused to share this figure sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, raising serious questions about transparency.

The CAA provides for citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Parsi refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, provided they have come to India before 31 December 2014, but the ground reality looks different from it. According to BJP MP Jagannath government from Ranaaghat in West Bengal, only less than 100 people have been given citizenship in their constituency, while about one lakh people, especially from Matua community, have potential beneficiaries.

The ministry did not give any answer

When The Hindu put RTI and asked how many people applied for citizenship and how many were approved, the Ministry of Home Affairs replied that they did not have such figures. Later, when the matter went to the Central Information Commission (CIC), he also closed the matter, accepting the reply of the ministry as correct.

Home Minister Amit Shah made a big claim

While discussing the law in Parliament in December 2019, Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that millions of people will benefit from CAA. Now that the rules have been implemented more than one year, the figures and information so far do not confirm it.

What is the Citizenship Amendment Act?

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) is a law that provides for Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, provided they have come to India before 31 December 2014 and have fled their country due to harassment. The Muslim community has not been included in this law, due to which it was also in controversies. Its rules came into force in March 2024, after which people can apply online. Its purpose is to give security and citizenship to religious minorities.

Also read-

Rahul Gandhi, raging on the slums of Delhi on the slums of Delhi, said- ‘Your whole family in a single moment …’

Afghans Expelled from Iran: According to the United Nations Agency IOM (International Organization for Migration), 508,426 Afghan civilians crossed the Iran-Afghan border between June 24 and July 9. Most of them were laborers without documents who had been living in Iran for years. This step was taken under the Iranian exile policy announced in March 2025.

Iran intensified exile after a conflict with Israel
This step has been taken at a time when Iran’s struggle with Israel has recently ended. Local government media has claimed that some Afghan citizens spied for Israel. International human rights organizations and experts have expressed deep concern about this campaign. Critics say that it is like a kind of collective punishment, misconduct and political gains to make the weaker population a goat of sacrifice.

Crowd and destitute children on the border
A video of thousands of returning Afghans was seen in the video from Islam Kala Border Crossing (Western Afghanistan). The capacity of relief centers has been completely filled and many children without parents have also arrived. IOM’s mission chief Mihians Park told CNN, ‘Thousands of people are standing in the sun, and the heat of Herat is very intense. Last week, about 400 such children came to us who were separated alone or from their family. This is a very large number. He said that 2.5 lakh Afghan citizens were deported in the first week of July itself, which is the largest weekly figure of 2025.

Complaints of assault and inhuman behavior in custody
A young Afghan youth Bashir said that he was arrested by the Irani police in Tehran. Bashir said ‘I was kept in custody for two days. First he recovered 1 crore Toman (about 200 dollars) from me. Then it was asked to give $ 50 more to the detention center. There were about 200 people there. Used to kill and abuse us. Food and water were not even given.

11 year old family
An 11 -year -old Afghan girl Parija said that ‘We spent 6 years in Iran and were also legal documents. Still we were expelled from school and asked to leave the country. They told us to get the exit letter and go back.

Accusation of espionage or cleaning of workers?
Iranian media claims that Afghan migrants spy for Israel, but critics say they are allegations without evidence, and laborers who have been part of the informal economy are being targeted.

UN Representative Richard Bennet’s sharp criticism
The United Nations Special Representative Richard Bennett wrote on the X, ‘Hundreds of Afghans and religious-ethnic minorities have been detained in Iran. In the media, he is being described as a traitor and hate, inhuman language is being used against him.

Iran government rescue
The Iran government defended the exile campaign and said, ‘We have always tried to be a good host. But national security is our priority and those who are living illegally, they will have to go back.