Home Ministry's big statement on CAA, said - Indian Muslims need not panic, they have the same rights as Hindus

The Home Ministry has appealed to the Muslim community, which is surrounded by many doubts on the CAA, not to worry. In a statement released late Tuesday evening, the ministry said Muslims should not fear the Citizenship Amendment Act. Indian Muslims have nothing to do with this law. They have the same rights as Hindus.

While trying to allay the apprehensions of a section of Muslims and students over the CAA, the ministry has clarified that after the implementation of the CAA law, no Indian will be asked to produce any document to prove his citizenship.

There is no provision affecting Indian citizenship

The Home Ministry said in a statement that there is no provision in the CAA that affects the citizenship of any Indian. This has nothing to do with the 18 crore Indian Muslims living in India, who have the same rights as their equivalent Hindu Indian citizens. The CAA Act has provisions for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014 and are staying here as illegal immigrants.

There is no provision for deportation in the Act

The Ministry of Home Affairs has said in its statement that due to atrocities on minorities in three Muslim countries, the image of Islam has been badly tarnished throughout the world, however, as Islam is a peaceful religion, it never promotes hatred, violence, harassment on religious grounds. This law protects the image of Islam from being tarnished in the name of persecution.

Calling this law necessary, the ministry said there is no agreement with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh to repatriate tourists to these countries. This citizenship law does not deal with the deportation of illegal immigrants. Therefore, the concern of a section of people, including Muslims and students, that the CAA is against Muslim minorities is unwarranted.

There is no restriction on Muslims getting Indian citizenship

The Ministry has also clarified that under Section 6 of the Citizenship Act, which deals with citizenship on the basis of naturalization, there is no restriction on Muslims anywhere in the world acquiring Indian citizenship. The statement said that the CAA will end the suffering of persecution of those who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014, without curtailing the rights, freedoms and opportunities that Indian Muslims have enjoyed since independence, like Indian citizens of other religions. To reduce and show leniency towards them, the eligibility period to apply for citizenship has been reduced from 11 to five years.

Law is required

A statement released by the ministry said the legislation was necessary to bring about necessary changes in the citizenship system and control illegal immigrants. The ministry has also clarified that the Act will not prevent any such Muslim from applying for Indian citizenship under the existing law. who faced persecution in three Islamic countries for practicing their own customs of Islam.