Citizenship Law : Opposition vs Alternative

 

 

Context :

4 Years After Bill Passed, Citizenship Law CAA Becomes Reality .. NDTV .. 12 Mar 2024

Extract :

Now that the notification has been issued, the central government can grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants - from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan - who came to India due to religious persecution before December 31, 2014.  

A spokesperson for the Home Ministry said eligible individuals could submit applications in "a completely online mode". No other documentation will be sought from the applicants, one official said.

 

Context :

List Of Documents Required ……… News18… 12 Mar 2024

 

Extract :

HERE ARE THE LIST OF DOCUMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION:

·         Copy of the passport issued by the Government of Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan

·         Registration Certificate or Residential Permit issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) in India .Birth certificate issued by a Government authority in Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan

·         School certificate or Educational certificate issued by the School or College or Board or University authorities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan

·         Identity Document of any kind issued by Government of Afghanistan orBangladesh or Pakistan or any other Government authorities or Government agencies in these countries

·         Any License or Certificate issued by a Government authority of Afghanistan,Bangladesh or Pakistan

·         Land or tenancy records in Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan

·         Any document that shows that either of the parents or grandparents or great grandparents of the applicant is or had been a citizen of one of the three countries, i.e. Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan

·         Any other document issued by a Government authority or a Government agency in Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan which will establish that the applicant is from Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan

Note: The above documents will be admissible even beyond their validity period.

 

In addition to this, the following documents were listed for the applicant to prove that they entered into India on or before December 31, 2014:

 

1.     Copy of the visa and immigration stamp on arrival in India

2.     Registration Certificate or Residential Permit issued by the Foreigners RegionalRegistration Officer (FRRO) or Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) in India

3.     Slip issued by the Census Enumerators in India to such persons while conductingcensus related survey

4.     Government-issued license or certificate or permit in India (including Driving License, Aadhaar Card etc.)

5.     Ration Card of the applicant issued in India

6.     Any letter issued by the Government or Court to the applicant with official stamp

7.     The birth certificate of the applicant issued in India

8.     Land or tenancy records or registered rental agreement in India in the name of the applicant

9.     PAN Card issuance document bearing the date of issuance

10.  Any other document issued by the Central Government or State Government or any

11.  Public Sector Undertakings of Central Government or State Government or anyfinancial institutions like Banks or any other Public Authority

12.  Certificate issued by an elected member of any rural or urban body or officer thereof or a revenue officer

13.  Record and account details relating to and issued by the Banks (including PrivateBanks) or Post Office accounts in the name of the applicant

14.  Insurance policies issued by the Insurance companies in India in the name of theapplicant

15.  Electricity connection papers or Electricity Bills or other Utility Bills in the name of the applicant

16.  Court or Tribunal Records or Processes in India in respect of the applicant

17.  Document showing service or employment under any employer in India supported by Employees Provident Fund (EPF)/ General Provident Fund/ Pension/ Employees

18.  State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) documents

19.  School leaving certificate of the applicant issued in India

20.  Academic certificate issued by a school or college or a board or a University or agovernment institution

21.  Municipality trade license issued to the applicant

22.  Marriage Certificate

 

 

My Take :

 

( A )  Portal

It took me one hour of searching on internet to find the following PORTAL where one can apply for :

Login to Submit Application for Indian Citizenship Under CAA, 2019

https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/Login 

Internet is flooded with hundreds of news reports about CAA but not one of these displayed this URL !

 

( B )  Eligibility Criteria

As per TV channel Aaj Tak , between 1971 and 2014 , some 17 lakh migrants from Pakistan – Afghanistan – Bangla Desh , entered India . No one knows how many of these are Muslims ( not eligible ) and how many are “ Hindu – Parsi – Jain – Sikh – Christian – Baudhh “ ( Eligible )

If they discover the above-mentioned Citizenship Application Portal , they will give up  “ signing in “ after struggling for 15 minutes – what with the form requiring repeated entering of CAPTCHA and OTPs  !

Dear Shri Amitbhai Shah ,

I strongly urge you to make it easy for an applicant , to first conclude whether he / she is ELIGIBLE or not , before subjecting her to this “ Online Torture Punishment ( OTP ) “

By publishing following , clickable , ELIGIBILITY  FLOW CHART on the portal :

 

 

 

( C )  Alternative

Since yesterday, news-papers and TV channels are busy airing the views of opposition political parties . With one voice, all of them are decrying / running down the CAA notification

But, not one of them have come forward with any “ positive / constructive “ suggestion

I urge them to first read my following e-mail – then forward their agreement / dis-agreement , to Shri Amitbhai :

Ø  CAA Compromise : With Malice towards None ………….. 22  Jan  2020

  

With regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.HemenParekh.ai  /  12  March  2024

 

I posed following question to my Virtual Avatar ( www.HemenParekh.ai  )  :

What are your suggestions regarding CAA - Citizenship Amendment Act ? How will your suggestions overcome the resistance from Opposition parties ?

 

My Avatar replied :

I believe that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) can be amended to address the concerns raised by the opposition parties.

My suggestion is to rephrase the act to focus on granting refuge to persecuted foreign minorities, irrespective of their specific countries of origin.

By emphasizing the protection of religiously persecuted individuals and ensuring a fair process for granting Indian citizenship, we can demonstrate our commitment to secularism and human rights.

This approach may help in garnering cooperation from all political parties and overcoming the objections raised by the opposition.