2019/04/13 by Chetna Sharma · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #South Asian Studies and Conflicts #Migration, Refugees, and Integration #South Asian Studies and Diaspora
paper · doi:10.1080/14631369.2019.1601993
openalex publication_date 2019/04/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
This article is an attempt to unpack how the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 that proposed citizenship on the basis of religious affiliation trace its past from narrative rooted in partition and idea of religious identity in determination of citizenship status in India. The act proposes, persons belonging to minority community namely Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsi and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who have either entered into India without valid travel documents or the validity of their documents have expired are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship by naturalisation in 7 years instead of existing 12 years. Building on existing scholarship, field experience and media reports this article argues proposed citizenship amendment bill that favours citizenship status for persecuted minorities defined primarily as Hindus leaving Muslims is not an attempt to redefine citizenship but reinforce logic that favours narrative of India for Hindus.