PM Narendra Modi Big Announcement: Citizenship Amendment Act, Agni-5 Missiles And More, Key Highlights

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Monday at 5:30 pm. This address comes a few days ahead of the expected announcement of the dates of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Modi's leadership aiming for a third consecutive term, this development marks a critical moment. This comes at a pivotal time as the government deliberates on appointing two new election commissioners following the unexpected resignation of Arun Goel. A high-profile committee is set to convene on either the 14th or 15th of March to decide on the appointments.

In this significant national address, PM Modi lauded the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for its successful test of the Agni-5 missile. This missile is a nuclear-capable weapon with an impressive range exceeding 5,000 kilometers.

Mission Divyastra
The successful completion of Mission Divyastra underlines the testing of the Agni-5 missile. This mission is noteworthy for incorporating cutting-edge Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology into the domestically engineered missile. The Prime Minister expressed his pride in the DRDO scientists' achievements through a post on X, highlighting the importance of this milestone.

The Agni-V missile, a ground-launched ballistic missile, is designed for surface-to-surface deployment and is nuclear-capable. Its extended range and next-gen technology solidify India's position in missile technology on a global scale.

Citizenship Amendment Act

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has recently announced the official notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. This development marks a significant step in the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), allowing eligible individuals to apply for Indian citizenship through a designated web portal. The announcement has led to increased security measures in sensitive regions of the national capital, with flag marches taking place in certain areas of Delhi.

On Twitter, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has notified today, 'the Rules under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-2019). These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024 will enable the persons eligible under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian citizenship. The applications will be submitted in a completely online mode for which a web portal has been provided.'

The announcement has led to increased security measures in sensitive regions of the national capital, with flag marches taking place in certain areas of Delhi.

The Islamic Centre of India has called for peace amidst these developments. Meanwhile, Trinamool leader Tanmoy Ghosh has voiced strong opposition to the new rules. The controversy surrounding the CAA is not new, with several states expressing concerns.

Further, Assam views the CAA as a violation of the 1985 Assam Accord. West Bengal's Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, has also stated her opposition to the CAA, particularly if it discriminates against specific groups.