Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA): One year since contentious law was passed by Parliament

After a year since Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed by Parliament, Central government's explanation about act has done little to assu concerns of those opposing it. While anti-CAA protests came to an end due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, eyeing on West Bengal elections, BJP has said that y will implement citizenship law from January 2021. Protests have begun again in part of Assam at a time when Central government is alrey facing a massive farmers' protest against its three farm laws. Here's a look back at year since  Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed:

What is Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)?

Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) seeks to grant citizenship to n-Muslim migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Parsi communities who came to country from Pakistan, Banglesh and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014.  Parliament passed Citizenship Amendment Bill on December 11, 2019, and President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on December 12.

Jamia violence 

Jamia Milia Islamia University students called a protest against  Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on December 12. Students claim that y were holding a peaceful protest and situation became tensed when miscreants from outside stone-pelted at Delhi Police present outside university campus. Police claim that when y tried to stop m, y turned violent and set vehicles on fire. Police also say that  protestors n ran inside university campus and Police followed m inside. While students criticised  police action of barging inside campus without permission, Police maintain that action was taken against miscreants and t students. Students also allege that police entered campus, including library, and used tear gas shells, video of which went viral last year. 

Centre's stance and anti-CAA protests

Since pass of CAA, widespre protest began opposing Act. Opposition leers and activists claimed that citizenship amendment act when coupled with NRC, will le to ostracization of Muslims in country. y claimed that Hindus whose name will be excluded from NRC would get citizenship with help of CAA, but Muslims will have way out. While Central Government including Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have said that one would lose ir citizenship due to CAA, many activists have been booked for statements against CAA. 

While thousands were detained by police throughout country, at least 27 people died prior to Delhi riots. Several universities  - Jamia Millia, Aligarh, Mras University witnessed clashes between police and students which resulted in alleged lathi- charging, tear gas, and rubber pellet action by police and vandalism by protestors. All protests ground to a halt after Delhi riots in February.

While BJP has maintained that NRC, CAA and NPR were t linked, most Indians have deemed it an attempt to disenfranchise mirities. BJP which h pushed for a nationwide NRC in ir electoral campaigns has w rejected it with PM Modi saying that re were talks of a 'nationwide NRC' in parliament. Currently, NPR process too has been stalled due to COVID-19 lockdown.

Shaheen bagh protest

Shaheen Bagh protests began on December 14 where thousands of people, including women and children camped on streets and h been a major poll controversy ahe of Delhi polls. Though PM Modi called it a 'political experiment', Congress and AAP supported protests - offering biryani to protestors. In spite of Shaheen Bagh Coordination committee calling off ir part of protests on January 2, citing politicizing of protests, protests against NRC and CAA continued mainly led by Muslim women. As protest continued, several pleas sought clearance of area citing that it is causing inconvenience for commuters. Supreme Court n appointed two interlocutors - vocates Shana Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde to persue Shaheen Bagh protestors on shifting protest site.

Supreme Court on October 7, said anti-CAA protesters at cant block public ros and create inconvenience for ors, while it h earlier upheld fundamental right to protest of women. A bench comprising justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph said stated that although dissent and democracy must walk hand in hand, public places cant be allowed to be occupied indefinitely in name of protests. Supreme Court furr put onus on ministration to ensure that public areas are kept clear of any such encroachments.

Delhi riots 

On 22 February, a group of protesters, including women, began a sit-in protest, similar to Shaheen Bagh near Jaffrab metro station and blocked a stretch of Seelampur–Jaffrab–Maujpur ro, as well as entry and exit to metro station. BJP leer Kapil Mishra and his supporters opposed development and warned protesters. Soon after, clashes broke out between anti-CAA and CAA protesters in Jaffrab and Chand Bagh areas. Kardampuri and Jaffrab were filled with anti-CAA protesters and Maujpur Chowk and Maujpur Tirahawere occupied by CAA supporters, both resorting to stone-pelting. While US President Donald Trump was in national capital, clash soon turned into one of worst riots in India with houses, shops, and buses being immolated. However, Home Minister reviewed situation on February 24 and situation was brought under control even as violence killed 53 and injured over 200, as per official figures.

Anti-CAA resolution

Demanding to scrap contentious law, Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab, Telangana, Mhya Presh and West Bengal have passed a resolution against CAA. Several or states like Maharashtra have openly opposed CAA-NRC-NPR and Bihar has passed a resolution in favour of old format of NPR. 

Supreme Court on CAA 

Supreme Court heard a batch of over 144 petitions and refused to stay Act and said that it will only decide when it hears Centre's stance on matter. Chief Justice of India SA Bobde while hearing a petition on August 22 observed, “Country is going through difficult times. As it is, re is a lot of trouble. object should be to bring about peace. Such petitions don’t help. You kw that re is a presumption of constitutionality (of laws). We don’t mean to be offensive but we have never heard of petitions like this asking that Act should be declared constitutional”.

CAA was first challenged before Supreme Court on December 12. On January 22, top court directed government to file its reply within four weeks and said that matter will be taken up five weeks after Centre's response. It directed High Court to take up any petition that comes in meantime. 

IUML, Congress leer Jairam Ramesh, Kerala government, RJD leer Maj Jha, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, AIMIM leer Asuddin Owaisi h filed a petition against SC that was toger heard by top court. Several or petitioners include Muslim body Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, All Assam Students Union (AASU), Peace Party, CPI, NGOs 'Rihai Manch' and Citizens Against Hate, vocate M L Sharma, and law students have also approached apex court challenging Act.

RE | Assam NRC Final list here: 3.11 crore included, 19.06 lakh excluded