New Delhi: India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly rebuked the United States' recent comments on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), dismissing them as "misinformed and misplaced." MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized, "US comments on CAA are misinformed and misplaced. It’s an internal matter of India."
Reiterating India's stance on the CAA, the MEA affirmed, "The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) is an internal matter of India and is consistent with India’s inclusive traditions and our enduring commitment to human rights."
"The CAA is aimed at granting citizenship, not revoking it," added the MEA spokesperson, underscoring the law's alignment with principles of human dignity and rights.
In response to concerns raised by the US State Department, the MEA asserted that such apprehensions were "misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted." India maintains that the CAA is in line with constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and ensures equal treatment for all citizens.
"Lectures from those with limited understanding of India’s diverse traditions and the region’s post-Partition history are best avoided," commented the MEA, urging international partners to acknowledge India's efforts to aid persecuted minorities.
The United States had expressed worries about the implementation of the CAA in India. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US was closely monitoring the act's implementation, stressing the significance of religious freedom and equal treatment under the law.
Implemented by the Union government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the CAA facilitates citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries. However, opposition leaders argue that the notified rules are unconstitutional and discriminatory.
The enactment of the CAA comes four years after its passage by Parliament in December 2019, aiming to offer citizenship to persecuted minorities who entered India before December 31, 2014.
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