MHA clarifies on citizenship to migrants from three nations
The HinduThe Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday said no migrant from the six non-Muslim communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh “will become Indian citizen automatically.” A migrant should apply online and the competent authority would see whether he or she fulfiled all the qualifications for registration or naturalisation as Indian citizen, a senior MHA official said. It only provides a mechanism for some migrants who may otherwise have been called ‘illegal’ depriving them of opportunity to apply for Indian citizenship provided they meet certain conditions,” the official said. About 14,864 Bangladeshi nationals were also granted Indian citizenship after incorporating more than fifty enclaves of Bangladesh into Indian territory post the boundary agreement between the two countries in 2014,” the official said. The CAA now enables them to take Indian citizenship if they fulfil conditions/qualifications for such citizenship, provided they migrated from these three countries before December 31, 2014.” Citizenship to Tamils of Indian origin The official said that 4.61 lakh Tamils of Indian origin were given Indian citizenship from 1964-2008 after the signing of bilateral agreements in 1964 and 1974.