What is with the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019?
For those who are tweeting, sharing facebook and whatsapp forwards, this is a small and cryptic guide about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 and the issues surrounding it. I have tried to pen this short post without jargons. Also, my thoughts stem from my understanding of the issue and the Act. I would be grateful if readers can throw further light on the legal and political issues surrounding it. The President of India granted assent to the said Act on 12.12.2019 and so it is a law but I am not sure if the law has been brought into force by a notification. The Statement of Objects and Reasons to the Bill recognises the historical fact that trans-border migration of population has been happening continuously between the territories of India and the areas presently comprised in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Millions of citizens of undivided India belonging to various faiths were staying in the said areas of Pakistan and Bangladesh when India was partitioned in ...