The United States today expressed its concern over the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by the Indian government on March 11 and said it is closely monitoring the implementation of the Act in India.

State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, at his daily briefing, said that they were concerned about the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 on March 11. They have been closely monitoring this Act and how this Act will be implemented in India.

Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles, Miller added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs on March 11 notified the CCA rules for the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, after it was passed almost five years ago. Notably, the Centre has reduced the qualification period of application for citizenship from 11 to 5 years for eligible migrants who came to India before December 31, 2014.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, taking to X on March 11, said the Modi government today notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. These rules will now enable minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in our nation. With this notification PM Modi has delivered on another commitment and realised the promise of the makers of the constitution to the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians living in those countries.

In a press statement, the central government clarified that Indian Muslims need not worry as the CAA will not impact their citizenship.

The Act will not be implemented in all Northeastern States, where an Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required for a visit by people from other parts of the country, including those given special status under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur come under the ILP.

The tribal areas, where Autonomous District Councils (ADC) were formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, were also exempted from the purview of the CAA, as per the government officials.

Congress party on Friday credited its leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for reduction in the petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2, announced by the Union Petroleum Ministry. The new rates have become effective from today (March 15) at 6 am.

Addressing the media in Maharashtra’s Palghar today, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the Wayanad MP’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has had an effect, which is why the central government had decided to cut rates of petrol and diesel ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, which dates are reportedly to be announced on March 16.

The Petroleum Ministry on Thursday said that the reduction in petrol and diesel prices will boost consumer spending, and also decrease operating costs for over 58 lakh heavy goods vehicles running on diesel, 6 crore cars and 27 crore two-wheelers.

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government on its decision to reduce the price of Petrol and diesel a day before the announcement of the Lok Sabha election dates. He also reminded the Centre’s announcement for a reduction of Rs 100 in the prices of LPG cylinders.

The Congress leader, taking to X, said that the same sleight of hand was witnessed earlier this month when PM Modi had announced a reduction of Rs 100 in the prices of LPG. He added, saying he had said at a media briefing last week that prices of petrol and diesel would be reduced. It was done today, he added.

Chidambaram also asked the Centre if the government would say that the prices will not be increased after the elections or if the BJP comes to power again. Questioning the intention of the Centre, he said the Price of LPG cylinder was increased by Rs 700 by the BJP government and then reduced by Rs 100 on the eve of elections.

The same kind of sleight of hand has been practised in the case of petrol and diesel, he further charged.

Election Commission of India’s data revealed on Thursday that BJP received the highest sum among all political parties through electoral bonds scheme. Mamata Banerjee led Trinamool Congress (TMC) redeemed electoral bonds of much higher value than the Congress. The BJP redeemed bonds worth Rs 6061 crore followed by Trinamool Congress receiving Rs 1610 crore and the Congress is on the third spot with Rs 1422 crore.

Tamil Nadu-based Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated the biggest sum in these 5 years: Rs 1368 crore. Andhra Pradesh based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited donated Rs 891 crore, Qwik supply chain private private limited donated 400 crore and Haldia Energy Limited donated Rs 377 crore.

The Goenkas, Indigo, Spicejet, Jindals, Bajajs, Birlas, PVR, DLF, Mahindra and Mahindra, ITC Bharti Airtel, Sunil Bharti Mittal’s, Lakshmi Mittal are among the notable names who donated to the parties. Sunil Mittal’s 3 companies together purchased a total of Rs 246 crore worth of bonds. Lakshmi Niwas Mittal bought Rs 35 crore worth of bonds in individual capacity.

The donations made to the Congress and the Samajwadi Party was made in the name of President, All India Congress Committee and Adyaksha Samajwadi Party. The SBI had informed the Supreme Court that out of 22, 217 electoral bonds 22030 were redeemed between April 1,2019 and February 15.

The buyers of electoral bonds included Ultratech Cement, Cipla, Kaypee Enterprises, ITC, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, CEAT Tyres, Philips carbon Black Limited, Jindal Group, Vardhman Textiles, Sun Pharma, Welspun, Sula Wines, Keventer, PVR, Edelweiss, Apollo Tyres, Vedanta Ltd, DLF Commercial Developers, Bharti Airtel, Torrent Power, Piramal Enterprises, Megha Engineering, Grasim Industries, Indigo and Spicejet.

The political parties who benefited from the scheme include the BJP, Congress, AIADMK, BRS, ShivSena, TDP, YSR Congress, DMK, JD-S, NCP, Trinamool Congress, JDU, RJD,AAP, the Samajwadi Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, BJD, Goa Forward Party, Maharshtrawadi Gomantak party, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha, JMM, Sikkim Democratic Front and the Jana Sena Party.