In a move that is likely to stir controversy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has announced the implementation of rules for the 2019 citizenship law, which excludes Muslims. The timing of this announcement, just weeks before Modi seeks a third term in office, has raised concerns about the potential polarization of the upcoming elections.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) grants fast-track naturalization to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians who fled from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to India before December 31, 2014. Notably, Muslims, who represent the majority in those three nations, are excluded from the law's provisions.

This implementation comes after the law was approved by the Indian Parliament in 2019 but was withheld due to violent protests in New Delhi and other parts of the country, which led to numerous casualties. The protests, characterized by a diverse range of participants from various faiths, voiced concerns about the erosion of India's secular foundation. Muslims, in particular, feared that the law, in combination with the proposed national register of citizens, could further marginalize them.

The National Register of Citizens, which has only been enforced in the northeastern state of Assam so far, identifies and aims to eliminate individuals deemed to have entered India unlawfully. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has pledged to execute a similar citizenship verification program nationwide.

The government, however, has defended the 2019 citizenship law as a humanitarian gesture, stating that it aims solely to grant citizenship to religious minorities fleeing persecution and would not be used against Indian citizens.

Home Minister Amit Shah expressed in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), "These rules will now enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in our nation."

The timing of this implementation has been perceived as questionable by the main opposition Congress party, as it may be seen as an attempt to influence the upcoming elections.

Amnesty India, a human rights watchdog, has criticized the law, calling it "discriminatory" and asserting that it contradicts the principles of equality and international human rights law. The organization also pointed out that the law legitimizes religious-based discrimination and has exclusionary qualities.

India is home to approximately 200 million Muslims, representing a significant minority group in a country of over 1.4 billion people. They are found throughout various regions of India and have faced targeted attacks since Modi assumed power in 2014.

Critics argue that Modi's reluctance to address anti-Muslim violence has emboldened extremist supporters and fueled hate speech against Muslims. Modi has strategically intertwined religion and politics, which has resonated strongly with the majority Hindu population. Earlier this year, he inaugurated a Hindu temple at the site of a demolished mosque in Ayodhya, effectively fulfilling a long-standing Hindu nationalist promise.

While several opinion polls indicate Modi's potential victory in the upcoming general election scheduled for May, the announcement of the implementation of the citizenship law may significantly impact the political landscape and communal dynamics in India.