Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 21 : Describing the mis-perceptions and apprehensions surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act as unfounded or motivated , Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh category stated here today that Citizenship Amendment Act is not anti – Muslim from any angle.
Allaying the needless fear-psychosis sought to be created in a certain section of society, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that the purpose of the Act is only to ensure the well – being of the minorities who have been religiously persecuted in the three countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Since Muslims are neither in minority in these countries nor do they face any persecution because of the religious affiliation in these countries which have Islam as their State religion, they are obviously not included here, he said.
However, Dr Jitendra Singh said, this does not mean that a foreigner of any religion from any country including a Muslim cannot apply for Indian citizenship, if he or she is eligible to do so as per Section 6 of the Citizenship Act 1955. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) brought in by this government does not change those provisions, he said.
At the same time, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Citizenship Amendment Act does not in any way discriminate against the Indian Muslims who are its citizens. He appealed to the members of the Muslim community to read the newly brought in Act thoroughly and they would realize that there is not a single word or phrase in the entire Act which even indirectly suggests any discrimination against the Indian Muslims.
Dr Jitendra Singh reiterated that, from time to time, over the last half a century, the successive Congress governments had expressed concerns over the hardships suffered by minority communities in these countries. He also referred to assurance given by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in Parliament on 5th of Nov 1950, when Nehru had said ” There is no doubt, of course, that those displaced persons who had come to settle in India are bound to have the citizenship. If the law is inadequate in this respect, the law should be changed”.
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