New Delhi/IBNS: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Monday criticised the Narendra Modi-led BJP government over the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), alleging that they are doing "dirty politics" to secure the votes of the poor from neighbouring countries.

In a social media post on X, Kejriwal said, “After ruling the country for ten years, the Modi government has brought the CAA before the upcoming elections. At a time when the poor and middle class are struggling with inflation and unemployed youth are facing hardships, instead of solving these real issues, they have brought the CAA."

He said the BJP is indulging "dirty politics" to make the poor from neighbouring countries their vote bank.

"It is being said that minorities from three neighboring countries will be given citizenship in India. That means they want to bring people from neighboring countries to India and settle them. Why? To create your vote bank. When our youth do not have employment then who will provide employment to the people coming from neighboring countries? Who will build a house for them? Will BJP provide them employment? Will the BJP build a house for them?

"In the last ten years, more than 11 lakh businessmen and industrialists, fed up with their policies and atrocities, left the country. Instead of bringing them back, they want to bring the poor from neighboring countries and settle them in India. Why? Just to create your vote bank?

“Especially the people of Assam and the entire northeastern India strongly oppose it, who are victims of migration from Bangladesh and whose language and culture are at risk today. The BJP has betrayed the people of Assam and the entire northeastern states,” he said.

People will respond to this in the Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal asserted.

The Centre Monday notified the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

The notification paves the way for granting Indian Citizenship to persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities on grounds of religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

In a post on X, the Home Ministry said, "These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship."

"The applications will be submitted in a completely online mode for which a web portal has been provided," it said.

The Parliament passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in December 2019.

"Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019, will give a new ray of hope to persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have migrated to India after facing persecution on the ground of religion in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh," Home Minister Amit Shah had said as he piloted the legislation for passing in the Parliament.

Shah reiterated that the Bill is not against any minority in India and that the rights of each Indian Citizen will be equally protected.