India's government has issued a stern response to the United States' commentary on the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that the 'Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019' is an internal matter, reflecting India's inclusive traditions and commitments to human rights. Those with limited knowledge of India's pluralistic culture and the post-partition history should refrain from trying to provide knowledge on the issue.
The central government released the CAA notification on Monday. Under this act, minorities from three neighboring countries may be granted Indian citizenship, excluding the Muslim community from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Following the notification of the CAA, the United States expressed concern on Thursday, stating it was closely monitoring the situation.
During a regular press conference, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller commented, 'India issued the notification for the Citizenship Amendment Bill on March 11. We are concerned about this matter and are closely monitoring how this law will be implemented. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment for all communities under the law are fundamental principles of democracy.'
India's Strong Reaction
The External Affairs Ministry of India, releasing a statement on Friday, clarified, 'It is India's internal affair. The CAA law is to provide refuge to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who had arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. This law is about granting, not stripping citizenship and supports human dignity and human rights.'
The ministry further stated, 'As for the US State Department's comments on the CAA notification, we believe them to be misinformed and inappropriate. The Indian Constitution guarantees religious freedom for all its citizens. There is no basis for any concern regarding the treatment of minorities. Any commendable initiative to assist those in distress should not be viewed through the lens of vote-bank politics. Nations who are allies and well-wishers of India should welcome this step.'
