Thrissur, January 17: Amid the ongoing nationwide stir against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a Kerala resident has filed a Right to Information (RTI) query seeking the citizenship proof of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The applicant, identified as Josh Kalluveettil, is a native of Chalakudy town in Thrissur district. Why Citizenship Amendment Act+NRC Raise Fear And Concerns: A Multi-Dimensional Take.

The RTI plea was moved by him on January 13, reports said on Friday. The application was filed before the public information officer of Chalakudy municipality in Thrissur district. As per the details of his application shared by news agency ANI, Kalluveeti has asked the information commissioner to share "documents" which prove that Modi is an Indian citizen.

The RTI query assumes significance as protests have erupted across the nation against the Centre's alleged bid to follow the CAA passage with a nationwide implementation of the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) exercise. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already issued notification to update the National Population Register (NPR) -- considered as a precursor to the NRC.

The CAA, which was passed in mid-December by the Parliament, mandates the grant of citizenship to non-Muslims who arrived in India till December 31, 2014 from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Critics of the government view the law through the prism of proposed nationwide NRC. If those excluded from the NRC are non-Muslims, they are expected to be granted citizenship, whereas, a Muslim excluded from the list would have to prove his citizenship before the Foreigners' Tribunal.

In the protests being led by Muslim groups and civil societies against the citizenship project of the Centre, clashes with security personnel have been reported in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states. In Uttar Pradesh, 19 people were killed in the violence, including those shot in police firing. In Karnataka, two deaths were reported.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 17, 2020 08:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).