NEW DELHI, Oct 23 - With the deadline for submission of the draft rules of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) fast approaching, all eyes seem to be on the Narendra Modi government�s next move.
The three-month extension sought by the Union Home Ministry for submission of the draft rules before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Subordinate Legislation expires in the first week of November. It has been learnt that the draft rules are ready, and the North Block is waiting for a signal to submit it before the Committee.
With elections in Assam and West Bengal due early next year, the Centre may rush through the Parliamentary Committee and finalise the rules. However, a member of the Committee said that they plan to vet the Act thoroughly and since the BJP does not enjoy majority in the Committee, the Union Home Ministry may have to indulge in some back channel diplomacy to get the rules through.
BJP president JP Nadda had said earlier this week that the rules are being readied.
However, sources said that the NDA government is caught in a tight spot as the CAA is likely to be create tension both in Assam and West Bengal, besides having international ramifications particularly in India�s relations with Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina are scheduled to hold a discussion virtually on December 16 to mark Victory Day of Bangladesh. The Hasina government has also invited Modi to be present physically on March 26, 2021 to celebrate Independence Day of her country, and it may be the Indian Prime Minister�s first international trip after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Sources said that the Centre is in a dilemma over implementation of the Act which may upset Bangladesh and lead to uncertainty regarding Modi�s visit to Dhaka. Bangladesh has openly opposed the CAA and conveyed its displeasure diplomatically.
However, one option the Centre is exploring is delaying implementation of the Act till after the Assembly elections in the two states, sources said.
The objective of the CAA is to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities � Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian � from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Lok Sabha had passed the CAA on December 9, 2019 and Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2019. The President gave his assent to the legislation on December 12, 2019. However, the Centre did not draft rules for vetting by the Subordinate Legislation Committee within six months of the Presidential assent, as a result of which it lapsed.
After the CAA was passed by Parliament, widespread protests were witnessed in the country. Those opposing the Act contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. Additionally in Assam, controversy over implementation of the National Register of Citizens has led to additional woes for the BJP-led government in the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah though has dismissed the allegations and described the protests as mostly political, he has asserted that no Indian citizen will lose citizenship due to the Act.
