The CAA 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 31 December 2014.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing
India on Friday rejected the US State Department’s statement on the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment ACT (CAA), terming it as misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted.
”India’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all its citizens. There are no grounds for any concern on treatment of minorities. Vote bank politics should not determine views about a laudable initiative to help those in distress,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.
He was reacting to US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller’s statement that Washington is concerned about the notification of the CAA rules in India and is closely monitoring the act’s implementation.
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”Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions and the region’s post Partition history are best not attempted,” the Indian spokesperson said, adding partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent with which this step has been taken.
He made it clear that the CAA is an internal matter of India and is in keeping with India’s inclusive traditions and its long-standing commitment to human rights. 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 31 December 2014.
”The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights,” the spokesperson added.
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