Govt invites citizenship applications from non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh

The central government on Friday invited non-Muslims -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists -- from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab to apply for Indian citizenship.

With the Union home ministry yet to notify rules under the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Centre on Friday invited non-Muslims (Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists) from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan and residing in 13 districts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Punjab to apply for Indian citizenship. The Union home ministry issued a notification to this effect for immediate implementation of the order under the Citizenship Act 1955 and Rules framed under the law in 2009. The rules under the CAA are yet to be framed by the government. This is in addition to the 16 districts in seven states that were given powers to verify and approve citizenship under pre-CAA provision i.e., Citizenship Act, 1955. The total number of districts where this is being implemented is 29 districts in nine states.