Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is a law to provide citizenship rights and it will not snatch away citizenship from anyone. In an interview to a news agency, Mr. Shah said, CAA will provide rights and citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians and Parsi refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He said, everyone will get equal rights under the provisions of Citizenship Amendment Act, CAA as they will now become citizens of India. He said, they will be added in the citizenship list like citizen of this country and they will be able to contest elections and become MP, MLA, CM and Minister. He clarified that the National Register of Citizens, NRC has nothing to do with the CAA.

The Union Minister said, there is no need for minorities to fear because there is no provision in CAA to take away anyone’s citizenship.He said, the doors have not been closed for anyone and even Muslims also have the right to apply for citizenship. The Minister said, all those people who have entered India between 15th August 1947 and 31st December 2014 are welcome in this country.