National Desk, 1st March: A viral video capturing Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s arrival at the BJP headquarters in a car with the number plate ‘DL1C AA 4421’ has sparked speculation on social media. The timing of the photograph coincides with anticipation surrounding the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 regulations, expected before the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) typically takes effect immediately after the announcement of the election schedule, anticipated in the second week of March. Amidst this backdrop, the impending announcement of CAA regulations adds to the political fervor.
The CAA, passed by Parliament in December 2019, has remained unimplemented, triggering nationwide protests and debates over its perceived discriminatory nature on religious grounds and its association with a potential nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise.
Sources familiar with the matter have indicated to news agency ANI that the regulations for the CAA could be disclosed at any time before the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. This aligns with previous statements from Amit Shah, who had affirmed last month that the CAA rules would be notified ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“The CAA is a law of the country, and its notification will definitely be issued. It will be issued before the polls. The CAA will be implemented before the elections. No one should have any confusion about it,” Shah reiterated during the ET NOW Global Business Summit 2024 on February 10.
As speculation mounts, the viral image of Amit Shah’s car serves as a reminder of the impending political developments and their potential implications on the national stage.