The Central Government has empowered the West Bengal government to conduct hearings under the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, and issue citizenship certificates to eligible applicants.
Showing a Gazette notification issued by the Union Home Ministry, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, told reporters at state headquarters today that 23 thousand people have so far been recognised as eligible and issued citizenship certificates out of around two lakh 30 thousand applicants. He said the remaining applications would be processed quickly and certificates would be handed over through the respective district magistrates. The Chief Minister urged people who had flee away from Bangladesh due to religious persecution to apply for citizenship under the CAA.
