India announces steps to implement a citizenship law that excludes Muslims

Indians raise their tied hands and shout slogans during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in New Delhi, India, Dec. 27, 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Monday announced rules to implement a 2019 citizenship law that critics say is discriminatory against Muslims, weeks before the Hindu nationalist leader will seek a third term in office. (Manish Swarup/AP)

NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Monday announced rules to implement a 2019 citizenship law that excludes Muslims, weeks before the Hindu nationalist leader seeks a third term in office.

The Citizenship Amendment Act provides a fast track to naturalization for Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and Christians who fled to Hindu-majority India from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan before Dec. 31, 2014. The law excludes Muslims, who are a majority in all three nations.