Ministry of Home Affairs Stresses Inclusivity in Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
The Ministry of Home Affairs has emphasized that the CAA does not bar any Muslim persecuted in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan from seeking Indian citizenship under existing laws.
The government reaffirmed today that the recently enacted CAA does not impede the rights of Indian Muslims, asserting that Muslims worldwide are eligible to seek Indian citizenship under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act.
Notably, the Centre has issued rules for the CAA, reducing the qualification period for citizenship application from 11 to 5 years for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from the specified countries who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.
The Ministry, under Amit Shah’s leadership, underscores that the CAA does not negate naturalization laws, allowing individuals, including Muslim migrants, to apply for Indian citizenship under existing provisions.
The government seeks to allay concerns among Indian Muslims, affirming that the CAA does not affect their citizenship rights and reiterating their equal status with Hindu counterparts.
Despite protests, the government maintains that the law aims to aid minorities facing persecution, aligning with India’s humanitarian tradition of providing refuge.
Additionally, the government clarified that no Indian citizen would be required to provide documentation to prove citizenship, and the CAA does not address the deportation of illegal immigrants.
The government highlighted the need to customize the citizenship system to control illegal migration and address the persecution faced by minorities in certain countries.
Importantly, the law grants the government the prerogative to provide citizenship to refugees facing religious persecution, as mandated by the Indian Constitution.
The implementation of the CAA, delayed due to the pandemic, underscores the government’s commitment to fulfilling its manifesto promises while upholding India’s humanitarian ethos.