CAA provisions may violate Indian constitution: US Congress report

certain provisions of the law Citizenship Amendment Act A report released by an independent research agency of the US Congress stated that the Constitution of India (CAA) promulgated this year may violate the Indian Constitution.

The CAA amended the Citizenship Act, 1955, Implemented in MarchIt comes nearly four years after parliament passed it. It paves the way for granting citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

According to a report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), “key provisions of the CAA — allowing immigrants of six religions from three countries to obtain citizenship while excluding Muslims — may violate certain provisions of the Indian Constitution.”

The report highlights concerns that coupled with the planned National Register of Citizens (NRC), the CAA could jeopardize the rights of India’s Muslim population.

The report noted that opponents of the CAA are wary of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s “pursuit of a Hindu majoritarian, anti-Muslim agenda that threatens India’s status as a formally secular republic and violates international human rights norms and obligations.”

The report also noted that the CAA was implemented “during the BJP’s second national re-election campaign”, a timing that some observers believe was “largely politically motivated”.

CRS is an independent research agency of the U.S. Congress. It provides reports to help Congress make decisions, but does not represent the official views of Congress.

Previously, the Biden administration had expressed concerns about India’s notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act and stated Closely monitor the implementation of controversial laws.

India has dismissed the criticism and has always maintained that the primary purpose of the CAA is to grant citizenship. The Center in a statement assured that no citizen of the country will lose their citizenship due to this legislation.

(with PTI input)