In a gazette notification Tuesday, the government has exempted minorities facing persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan from prosecution under the Immigration and Foreigners Act if they have entered India before December 31, 2024.
The Citizenship Amendment Act-2019 sets a deadline of December 31, 2014, for these minorities to acquire Indian citizenship. The notification comes as a relief to a large number of people, especially Hindus from Pakistan, who crossed over to India after 2014. An MHA official, however, said this is not an extension for CAA deadline, which can only be done through an amendment passed by Parliament. “This is for those who have entered India after 2014 and are seeking long-term visas,” an official said.
The MHA has exempted passport/visa requirements from minority community refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2024, even if without travel documents or later documents expired. This is an addition to the statute.
