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.

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