External Affairs Ministry on Friday (15th March 2024) said the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, CAA is an internal matter of India and is in keeping with India’s inclusive traditions and long-standing commitment to human rights. Addressing media in New Delhi, Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Act grants a safe haven to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before 31st December 2014. He stressed that CAA is about giving citizenship, and not about taking away citizenship. He added that it addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights. 

 

On the U.S. State Department’s statement on the implementation of CAA, Mr Jaiswal said India is of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted. 

 

He highlighted that India’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all its citizens. He said there are no grounds for any concern on treatment of minorities. The spokesperson emphasised that vote bank politics should not determine views about a laudable initiative to help those in distress. 

 

Mr Jaiswal stated that lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions and the region’s post Partition history should not be attempted. 

 

He also said that partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent with which this step has been taken.