The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, categorically stated that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 is an internal matter of India, dismissing the recent comments made by the United States as misguided, misinformed, and unwarranted. This strong stance from New Delhi came in response to the expressed concerns from the US regarding the implementation of the Act.
Addressing the US concerns, the State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, voiced apprehensions over the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on March 11, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom and equal treatment for all communities as fundamental democratic principles.
In response to these remarks, New Delhi rebuffed any notion of accepting lectures from those with a limited understanding of India’s diverse traditions, firmly asserting that the Act is aimed at providing sanctuary to persecuted minorities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. It emphasized that the Act is about granting citizenship, not revoking it, and highlighted the issues of statelessness, human dignity, and human rights.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that the country’s constitution guarantees religious freedom to all citizens, negating any basis for concern among minorities. It also cautioned against letting political motivations influence opinions on a commendable initiative designed to aid those in need, suggesting that those unfamiliar with India’s pluralistic traditions and the region’s post-partition history should refrain from commentary. Instead, India’s partners and well-wishers were urged to recognize the noble intent behind the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
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