Shantanu Thakur said not just in West Bengal the CAA would be implemented in every state of India within a week.
Union minister Shantanu Thakur has claimed that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA will be implemented across the country in the next seven days. Addressing a public rally in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas on Sunday, Shantanu Thakur, BJP’s Lok Sabha MP from Bangaon, said, “The Ram mandir (temple) in Ayodhya has been inaugurated, and within the next seven days, the CAA will be implemented across the country. This is my guarantee. Not just in West Bengal, the CAA would be implemented in every state of India within a week.”
In a recent public rally in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur made a bold declaration that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would be implemented across all states of India within the next seven days. This announcement, coming on the heels of the Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya, has reignited discussions surrounding the controversial legislation. As the CAA has been a source of political and social contention since its passage in December 2019, Thakur’s statement warrants a closer examination of the political landscape, historical context, and procedural intricacies surrounding the law.
The Political Landscape of Shantanu Thakur:
Shantanu Thakur‘s assertion is situated within the larger political context of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) consistent emphasis on the implementation of the CAA in its electoral campaigns. The party attributes its success in states like West Bengal to the promise of implementing this legislation. The clash between the BJP, advocating for the CAA, and the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, staunchly opposing it, underscores the deep-seated divisions over the law’s implications. Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, has previously underscored the inevitability of the CAA’s implementation, labeling it as the law of the land. This political rhetoric has been a driving force behind the ongoing debate surrounding the legislation.
Procedural Complexities:
Beyond the political posturing, it is crucial to delve into the procedural complexities associated with the CAA. According to parliamentary procedures, rules for any legislation should have been framed within six months of receiving presidential assent. The Ministry of Home Affairs, however, has been consistently seeking extensions for framing these rules since 2020. This raises questions about the readiness and preparedness for the nationwide implementation of the CAA. Moreover, a noteworthy development is the delegation of powers to more than 30 district magistrates and home secretaries in nine states, enabling them to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from neighboring countries under the Citizenship Act of 1955. The exclusion of districts in Assam and West Bengal, politically sensitive regions, from this power delegation adds another layer to the selective application of the law.
Social and Communal Implications:
The CAA has been a flashpoint for protests and demonstrations, resulting in the loss of over a hundred lives. Critics argue that the law’s selective granting of citizenship based on religion undermines India’s secular fabric and exacerbates communal tensions. Thakur’s bold announcement is likely to reignite debates and possibly lead to renewed public protests. In conclusion, Shantanu Thakur’s guarantee of nationwide CAA implementation within a week has thrown the spotlight back on a law that has been at the center of heated debates and protests. While political commitments are clear, the procedural complexities and social implications of such a move cannot be overlooked. As the CAA continues to shape India’s political landscape, the delicate balance between legal processes, political promises, and public sentiment will determine its trajectory in the coming weeks and months.
