The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday issued a notification inviting non-Muslim refugees belonging to neighbouring countries under the 2009 rules of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Citizens of countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan can apply for Indian citizenship. Furthermore, people residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab can also apply for citizenship.
The application is aimed at religious minorities like Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists in the neighbouring countries who may or may not be facing persecution.
However, it has been clarified that the fresh order is in no way connected to the hugely controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which was passed back in 2019. The rules under the CAA act are yet to be framed according to the government.
When the CAA was enacted in 2019, there were widespread protests in different parts of the country and even riots took place in Delhi in early 2020 in the wake of these protests.
This benefit is extended to minorities who fulfil all conditions applicable to any foreign citizen seeking citizenship by naturalisation after a minimum of 11 years of residency in India.
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"In exercise of powers conferred under Section 16 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), the central government hereby directs that powers exercisable by it for registration as a citizen of India under Section 5, or for grant of certificate of naturalisation under section 6 of the Citizenship Act 1955 in respect of any person belonging to a minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan namely, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, residing in the districts mentioned and the states mentioned below....," the home ministry notification said.
The notification further said that the application for citizenship should be made through an online portal.
"The application for registration as a citizen of India or grant of certificate of naturalisation as citizen of India under the said rules (Citizenship Rules, 2009) shall be made by the applicant online," the notification said.
