Home Minister Amit Shah today said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) currently has no provision for non-Muslim immigrants without required documents, but said the government would soon find a way out for such refugees. The Center on Monday informed CAA to shorten the citizenship eligibility period for persecuted immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014, from 11 years to five years.
Anyone applying for Indian citizenship under the scheme will need to provide two documents – one proving that they are from an eligible country and the other proving that they entered India before December 31, 2014.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Amit Shah said that according to government estimates, 85 per cent of people in India seeking to apply under the scheme have the required documents. But he asserted that the government would soon find alternatives for those without any documents.
“We will find a way for those who do not have documents, but those who have documents are more than 85 per cent. There is no time limit,” Mr Shah told ANI.
“Application may take some time and the Indian government will call you for an interview based on your availability. The government will call you to review the documents and then conduct a face-to-face interview,” he said when asked how the process would work said.
#watch | Regarding the CAA notification and its provisions, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: “…even Muslims have the right to apply for citizenship…the door has not been closed to anyone…”
“…even Muslims have the right to apply for citizenship…the door has not been opened… pic.twitter.com/SHP9LU76VB
— ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2024
Protests have broken out in several parts of India against the decision to implement the CAA, as some fear the law could be used to declare them illegal immigrants and strip them of Indian citizenship.
Amit Shah has strongly denied this and said laws are needed to help minorities facing persecution in Muslim-majority countries. The BJP leader also said the constitution allows people of all religions and communities to seek Indian citizenship.
“Even Muslims have the right to apply for citizenship. The door is not closed to anyone,” the home minister said.
Responding to the opposition’s question on timing of notifying CAA before Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah said “there is no question of political gain” as the main objective of the BJP is to provide rights to persecuted minorities from Pakistan and justice. , Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
“All opposition parties including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee or Arvind Kejriwal are indulging in the politics of lies, so there is no question of time. The BJP made it clear in its 2019 manifesto , it will make CAA available to India to provide citizenship to refugees (from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan). The BJP has a clear agenda and in line with this promise, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, was introduced in Parliament It was passed in both houses. The bill was delayed due to Covid. The BJP had made its agenda clear long before the party got a mandate in the polls,” he said.
