In the ongoing discourse over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a pivotal query today: why does the CAA extend eligibility to Parsis and Christians while excluding Muslims? The CAA’s objective is to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.
During an interview with news agency ANI, Mr. Shah responded to the inquiry about why the Act includes Parsis and Christians, who are not indigenous to India, but excludes Muslims. He explained, “That region is not a part of India today due to a Muslim population. It was designated for them. I believe it’s our moral and Constitutional obligation to provide refuge to those who were part of Akhand Bharat and faced religious persecution.” Akhand Bharat refers to the concept of a unified greater India encompassing modern-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Tibet.
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Highlighting the demographic changes, Mr. Shah noted that Hindus constituted 23% of Pakistan’s population during Partition, which has since dwindled to 3.7%. He questioned, “Where did they go? Forced conversions occurred, they faced humiliation, treated as second-class citizens. Where should they go? Shouldn’t our Parliament and political parties address this?”
Similarly, he mentioned the decline of Hindus in Bangladesh from 22% in 1951 to 10% in 2011. Regarding Afghanistan, he pointed out the drastic reduction of Sikhs and Hindus from 2 lakh in 1992 to 500 today. Asserting their right to live according to their beliefs, he emphasized their historical connection to India.
Responding to queries about other persecuted communities like Shia, Baloch, and Ahmadiyya Muslims, Mr. Shah clarified that Muslims can also seek citizenship in India under constitutional provisions. He underscored that the CAA is specifically for persecuted minorities from three countries who crossed the border without valid documents.
When asked about individuals lacking documents, Mr. Shah assured, “We will devise a solution for those without documents. However, my estimation is that more than 85% of them possess documentation.”