India is moving forward with implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which has sparked controversy for excluding Muslims.
The CAA will grant citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who face persecution.
This law was passed in 2019 amid widespread protests and has now seen its rules finalized by the government.
Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah affirmed the implementation, stating it fulfills the constitutional promise to religious minorities in neighboring countries.
Eligible individuals can apply for Indian citizenship through an online portal established by the home ministry.
The law aims to provide refuge to those who have suffered persecution and have no other place to turn but India.
The CAA amendment has been a significant pledge of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in recent elections.
It modifies the existing Indian Citizenship law, allowing certain migrants to become citizens, provided they arrived before December 31, 2014.
The government has not specified a timeline for the law's implementation.
Anticipated by many, the announcement has triggered protests in some states, with concerns raised over its potential divisive impact.
Critics argue that the law undermines India's secular principles by excluding certain groups based on religion.
Additionally, it fails to address the plight of refugees from non-Muslim majority countries and regions, such as Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar.
There are fears that coupled with a proposed national register of citizens, the CAA could further marginalize the Muslim community.
Some worry about the consequences of increased migration near India's borders.
Opposition parties accuse the government of using the law for political gain ahead of upcoming elections.