GUWAHATI: Assam has had just eight applicants for citizenship under CAA to date and six of them are still to report for interviews, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said Monday, contradicting projections by some organisations that the state’s population could potentially swell by up to 50 lakh because of this provision.
“When I contacted some Hindu Bengali families and asked why they weren’t applying for citizenship under CAA, they spoke about not being convinced it was the right thing for them,” the CM said at a presser in Guwahati. “These families told me that they entered India prior to 1971 and hence do not want to seek citizenship under CAA. They want to prove their citizenship in a court of law.”
Sarma said the BJP-led govt would provide an opportunity to those with citizenship-linked cases pending in different courts to apply under CAA, although unofficial feedback suggests they are unlikely to do so. “That is the general sentiment among potential applicants in Assam. But there will be exceptions.”
Non-Muslims from six communities – Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians – who entered India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014, are eligible to apply for citizenship under the legislation.
State home department recently communicated to police not to refer citizenship-linked cases involving people from these communities to foreigners’ tribunals if they entered the country before the cut-off. “These communities deserve a chance to apply for Indian citizenship under the CAA,” states the communication.
Sarma clarified the state govt wasn’t dropping cases pending against Bengali Hindu immigrants in various foreigners’ tribunals. “We cannot drop any case. Once a case goes to a tribunal, I can’t give any directive. But tribunal judges are aware about CAA. So, they have to act according to the law. But I can tell a public prosecutor to flag the amended provision at the tribunal hearing.”
“When I contacted some Hindu Bengali families and asked why they weren’t applying for citizenship under CAA, they spoke about not being convinced it was the right thing for them,” the CM said at a presser in Guwahati. “These families told me that they entered India prior to 1971 and hence do not want to seek citizenship under CAA. They want to prove their citizenship in a court of law.”
Sarma said the BJP-led govt would provide an opportunity to those with citizenship-linked cases pending in different courts to apply under CAA, although unofficial feedback suggests they are unlikely to do so. “That is the general sentiment among potential applicants in Assam. But there will be exceptions.”
Non-Muslims from six communities – Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians – who entered India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014, are eligible to apply for citizenship under the legislation.
State home department recently communicated to police not to refer citizenship-linked cases involving people from these communities to foreigners’ tribunals if they entered the country before the cut-off. “These communities deserve a chance to apply for Indian citizenship under the CAA,” states the communication.
Sarma clarified the state govt wasn’t dropping cases pending against Bengali Hindu immigrants in various foreigners’ tribunals. “We cannot drop any case. Once a case goes to a tribunal, I can’t give any directive. But tribunal judges are aware about CAA. So, they have to act according to the law. But I can tell a public prosecutor to flag the amended provision at the tribunal hearing.”
