The Citizenship Bill seeks to amend the definition of an illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who have lived in India without documentation.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 has triggered widespread protests across India. The Act seeks to amend the definition of an illegal immigrant for Hindu, Sikh, Parsi, Buddhist and Christian immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who have lived in India without documentation. They will be granted fast track Indian citizenship in six years. So far 12 years of residence has been the standard eligibility requirement for naturalization. The anger over the CAA led to street protests, first in Assam that later spread to Delhi and other parts of the country. Students all over India are been protesting against the act and many are arrested. Section 144 has been imposed in Karnataka and telecom services have been shut down in certain parts of Delhi.
