Citizenship Amendment Act

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2019, aims to amend the Citizenship Act of 1955 to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities—Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians—from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan who fled to India before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution. The Act has been controversial, with critics arguing that it discriminates based on religion, violating the secular principles of the Indian Constitution. Supporters of the CAA, however, claim that it provides protection to persecuted minorities in neighboring countries and is a humanitarian measure.

The passage of the CAA triggered widespread protests across India, with protesters fearing that the Act, when combined with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), could marginalize Muslims, making them vulnerable to statelessness. Major protests erupted in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Guwahati, with civil society groups, students, and activists voicing their dissent. In some instances, the demonstrations were met with police action, leading to allegations of excessive force and human rights violations. The CAA also drew international attention, with several countries and global organizations raising concerns about its implications for India’s secular character and the protection of minority rights.

In January 2021, BOOM fact-checked an audio clip attributed to Harish Salve, a renowned Indian lawyer, in which he allegedly criticized anti-CAA protesters.

BOOM’s investigation revealed that the audio was actually recorded by Suresh Kochattil, known for his controversial WhatsApp audio messages.