Muslim Body Challenges ‘Discriminatory’ CAA in Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Tuesday filed an urgent application with the Supreme Court, seeking a halt to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). This move follows the Central government’s notification of the rules for the CAA yesterday, four years after its passage.

In its petition, the IUML argues that the CAA is unconstitutional and discriminatory, particularly against Muslims. The government’s decision to initiate citizenship grants under the CAA, especially with Lok Sabha elections approaching, has reignited controversy surrounding the act.

Passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, the CAA sparked widespread protests across India, notably in Delhi at Jamia Millia Islamia and Shaheen Bagh. These protests, along with communal tensions, resulted in violent riots in northeast Delhi in early 2020, causing significant loss of life and injury.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin labelled it as a “divisive agenda” of the BJP and predicted that “people will teach them (BJP) a befitting lesson.”

Under the newly implemented rules, the Modi government aims to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries, aligning with its goal of providing refuge to minorities facing religious persecution in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.