The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has now taken effect across India following its notification. While opposition parties sound their dissent, Pakistan has also made a statement regarding the CAA.
Pakistan has condemned the CAA as prejudiced, claiming it partitions people on the basis of religion. Official statements reassure that Indian Muslims will not be affected in terms of their citizenship.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, clarified that the CAA and its rules are discriminatory as they segregate people by religion.
Ms. Baloch explained that these rules are founded on the incorrect notion that minorities are persecuted in Muslim countries, while India is proposed as a secure haven for them. Mumtaz mentioned that the Pakistan parliament passed a resolution on December 16, 2019, criticizing CAA as contrary to international equality norms.
She believes that minorities within India will not be targeted and that the government will take steps in this direction.
What Has the US Said About the CAA?
The US has expressed concern over India's CAA notification. US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller stated the US is closely monitoring how the law is being enforced, underscoring respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law as fundamental democratic principles.
What is the CAA?
The Citizenship Amendment Bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2016. It cleared the Lok Sabha but stalled in the Rajya Sabha, later being referred to a parliamentary committee before the general elections intervened.
Post-election, a new government initiated, and the bill was reintroduced in December 2019, this time passing in both Houses of Parliament. Following presidential assent, it became law on January 10, 2020.
The CAA aims to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, and Parsi faiths, who settled in India on or before December 31, 2014.
Why Is the CAA Controversial?
The primary objection to the CAA is its perceived religious bias. Critics argue that if the law is about granting citizenship, it should not discriminate based on religion. The government counters that Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are Islamic nations where non-Muslims suffer discrimination, which is why only non-Muslim refugees have been included in the CAA.
Legally, to obtain Indian citizenship one typically needs to reside in the country for 11 years. However, the CAA reduces this duration to 6 years for non-Muslims from these three countries, whereas individuals from other nations still require the standard 11-year stay, regardless of religion.
