MHA says data of applicants for citizenship under CAA not readily available
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stated that information regarding applicants who became Indian citizens under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 is not readily available. This was disclosed in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by The Hindu. The MHA explained that only the readily available information can be provided, and as per the RTI Act of 2005, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) is not required to create or compile data specifically for the purpose of responding to an RTI request.
The Citizenship Amendment Act, passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, allows undocumented migrants from six non-Muslim communities—Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, or Christian—from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to seek Indian citizenship. The Act covers those who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, and reduces the required residence period for citizenship from 11 years to five years.
In a previous RTI response dated April 15, 2024, the MHA had clarified that there is no provision under the Citizenship Act of 1955, or its amendment in 2019, to maintain records of applications submitted under the CAA. This meant that the Ministry does not have a detailed or accessible database for the number of applications or their status. This position was reiterated in response to another RTI filed by Maharashtra resident Ajay Bose, where the MHA confirmed that it does not maintain records as requested, and thus the information should be considered "NIL."
The exact number of beneficiaries under the CAA remains unknown. During the 2019 parliamentary debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah suggested that "lakhs and crores" of people would benefit from the Act. However, a report from the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, presented to a parliamentary committee, estimated that around 31,000 people would be the immediate beneficiaries. Specifically, the report stated that 31,313 individuals from minority communities—Hindus (25,447), Sikhs (5,807), Christians (55), Buddhists (2), and Parsis (2)—had been granted long-term visas due to claims of religious persecution in their respective countries. These individuals were seen as immediate candidates for Indian citizenship under the CAA.
Despite the passage of the CAA in 2019, the implementation of the Act faced delays. It was only on March 11, 2024, just days before the announcement of the 2024 general elections, that the MHA notified the CAA Rules, which officially enabled the implementation of the Act. The rules were essential for processing applications under the CAA and formalizing the path to citizenship for the targeted communities.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
