The first set of citizenship certificates after notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, were issued on Wednesday, May 15.

 

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over the citizenship certificates to 14 applicants in New Delhi. The Home Secretary congratulated the applicants and highlighted salient features of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

 

The move comes nearly two months after rules under CAA were notified to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from three neighbouring countries. The government earlier notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 on March 11, 2024.

 

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"The Rules envisage manner of application form, procedure for processing applications by District Level Committee (DLC) and scrutiny and grant of citizenship by State Level Empowered Committee," a givernment statement said.

 

"In pursuance of these rules, applications have been received from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have entered into India up to 31.12.2014 on account of persecution on grounds of religion or fear of such persecution," the statement added. 

 

Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over the certificates to the 14 people after their applications were processed online through a designated portal, according to a government spokesperson. 

 

Arjun, one of the applicants who received citizenship certificate, said he came to Delhi in 2014, but couldn't study because he had no certificates. He added that now his children will be able to study. 

 

"I came to Delhi in 2014, earlier I stayed in Gujarat for 4 years...I am very happy that I got the citizenship. I couldn't study because I had no certificates, I was doing small jobs. Now, at least my children will be able to study...I am thankful to PM Modi and Amit Shah," Arjun said.

 

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed it a historic day, saying the decades-long wait of those who faced religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is over.

 

While granting the citizenship certificates, the home secretary congratulated the  14 applicants and highlighted the salient features of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. Secretary Posts, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Registrar General of India and senior officers were also present during the interactive session when the certificates were issued.

 

The CAA rules provide for the manner of applying, the procedure for processing the application by the District Level Committee (DLC) and the scrutiny of applications and grant of citizenship by the State Level Empowered Committee (EC).

 

After the CAA rules were enforced, applications have been received from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India due to religious persecution until 31.12.2014.



 





After the enactment, the CAA got the president's assent but the rules under which the Indian citizenship was granted were issued on March 11 this year, after a delay of around four years.