Amit Shah queries Owaisi, Mamata on CAA anti-Muslim assertion.
Amit Shah also reassured the Muslim community that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) does not, in any manner, infringe upon their rights, contrary to the claims made by the opposition. He emphasized that the law does not impede anyone’s existing citizenship status or rights.
Shah emphasized that understanding the law required considering its historical context, not isolating it.
Owaisi had vehemently labeled the law as anti-Muslim, arguing that its religious basis made it unfit for formulation in India. Similarly, Banerjee raised questions about the government’s actions, suggesting the CAA targeted the Muslim community originating from Bangladesh.
Shah asserted, “This is not a political game for the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is a question of giving them rights that have eluded them for three generations and empathizing with their pain.”
Addressing concerns directly, Shah assured the Muslim community that the CAA did not infringe upon their rights, contrary to opposition claims. “I have stated this nearly 41 times recently that minorities in India need not worry as there is no provision to take away anyone’s citizenship. It only guarantees citizenship for persecuted minorities of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, and Parsi denominations,” Shah reiterated.
Shah criticized the opposition for incessant criticism, citing examples such as questioning the surgical strikes and the abrogation of Article 370. He emphasized the BJP’s track record of delivering on promises, highlighting Prime Minister Modi’s commitments coming to fruition.
Delving into history, Shah contextualized the CAA within the narrative of partition. “Do not view this law in isolation. On August 15, 1947, the country was divided into three parts. He noted that minorities in these divided regions faced severe oppression, including forced conversions and assaults on women, leading them to seek refuge in India.
Now, the Congress has seemingly forgotten this, opting for vote bank politics.”
Shah emphasized the moral duty of the government to provide citizenship and protection to persecuted minorities. “Those who faced persecution for their faith in undivided India deserve citizenship. It is our moral duty,” he asserted. He pointed to statistics showing a decline in the Hindu population in Pakistan since independence, highlighting the plight of persecuted communities.
Discussing allegations by Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray that the CAA aimed to divert attention from BJP government failures, Shah demanded clarity on Thackeray’s stance. “I want a clear clarification from Uddhav Thackeray in front of the nation and Maharashtra’s people, whether he supports the CAA or not. His shift seems to be towards appeasement politics for minority votes, contrasting with our clear stance from day one,” Shah remarked.
On March 11, the Union Home Ministry released rules for the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections announcement. The CAA aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians, who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
The debate surrounding the CAA continues to be highly contentious, with the government emphasizing its humanitarian aspect, providing a pathway to citizenship for persecuted minorities, while critics argue it violates the secular principles of India’s constitution by using religion as a basis for citizenship. As political rhetoric intensifies, the implications and implementation of the CAA remain a focal point of discussion across the country.