The initiative was put forward by the country's authorities five years ago, but it was met with heated discussions. Opponents of the reform and its supporters engaged in active conflicts. In February 2020, about 50 people died in clashes in Delhi.
The Indian authorities have adopted amendments to the Citizenship Act of the country, which will allow issuing passports to minorities persecuted on religious grounds. This was written in the social network X by the Minister of Internal Affairs Amit Shah.
We are talking about refugees from neighboring countries with a predominantly Muslim population, who arrived in India before January 1, 2015. Those who practice Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism and Christianity but not Islam will be eligible for citizenship.
"The 2024 amendments to the Citizenship Act will enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to obtain citizenship in our country," the Indian foreign policy chief wrote.
The new version of the Citizenship Act was approved by the Indian Parliament. The amendments are aimed at protecting religious minorities. Applications for citizenship under a simplified procedure will be possible to apply online.
The Russian authorities have simplified the citizenship procedure for repatriate compatriots who wish to resettle in Russia. Meanwhile, Finland wants to toughen the requirements for obtaining citizenship.