Those opposing Citizenship Amendment Bill in north-east say it nullifies provisions of Assam Accord
Only a small number Bangladeshi nationals are likely to benefit from the Citizenship Amendment Bill, as less than 200 people from the neighbouring country have so far availed the long-term visa (LTV) regime introduced in 2015, a senior Home Ministry official said.
The majority of those who are likely to apply for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Bill will be from Pakistan, as nearly 35,000 of such people have got LTVs so far.
"The number of LTVs issued by the Home Ministry to Bangladeshi nationals from 2011 to January 8, 2019, is just 187, while total LTVs issued to Pakistani nationals during the same period is 34,817," the official said.
Those who will apply for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Bill must fulfil similar criteria of LTVs.
"There cannot be too many Bangladeshis applying for the Indian nationality under the proposed new law. Otherwise, they would have already taken the LTVs for which criteria are the same," the official said.
Of the 187 LTVs granted to Bangladeshi nationals, only two were given in 2018, three in 2017, 50 LTVs were given in 2016, 26 LTVs were issued in 2015, 74 in 2014, 27 in 2012 and four in 2011. No LTV was issued to any Bangladeshi national in 2013.
Of the total Pakistani nationals given LTVs between January 1, 2015 and January 14, 2019, as many as 15,107 have been living in Rajasthan, 1,560 are living in Gujarat, 1,444 are living in Madhya Pradesh, 599 are staying in Maharashtra, 581 in Delhi, 342 in Chhattisgarh and 101 in Uttar Pradesh.
According to the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Indian nationality will be given to persecuted people belonging to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who have been living in the country for six years instead of current 11 years. This is applicable to those who have come to India till December 31, 2014.
A large section of people and organisations in the north-east have opposed the bill, saying it will nullify the provisions of the Assam Accord of 1985, which fixed March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date for deportation of all illegal immigrants irrespective of religion.
There have been protests against the bIll in the region ever since it was introduced and passed in the Lok Sabha on January 8.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh had already said the bill will apply to all the states and the Union Territories and the beneficiaries can reside anywhere in the country. "The burden of these persecuted migrants will be shared by the whole country. Assam alone would not have to bear the entire burden and the government of India is committed to give all help to the state government and people of Assam," Mr Singh had said.