Union Home Minister Amit Shah has firmly stated that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will not be repealed, reiterating the government's resolve to uphold Indian citizenship without compromise. In an interview with the news agency ANI, Shah emphasized that the CAA is a sovereign decision aimed at ensuring citizenship in India, and the government will stand firm on this decision.
Addressing concerns about the implementation of the act, Shah clarified that there is no provision in the CAA to revoke anyone's citizenship. He emphasized that the purpose of the CAA is to grant rights and citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, including Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, and Parsis.
Responding to opposition allegations about the BJP using the CAA to create a new vote bank, Shah dismissed these claims as baseless. He reiterated that the BJP had long committed to bringing the CAA and granting citizenship to refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Shah criticized opposition parties, including Asaduddin Owaisi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and Mamata Banerjee, for politicizing the issue and spreading falsehoods. He emphasized that the implementation of the CAA had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was a promise fulfilled by the BJP government.
Regarding concerns raised by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about the impact of granting citizenship to refugees, Shah accused Kejriwal of losing his composure and engaging in vote bank politics. He emphasized that refugees already reside in India and questioned Kejriwal's selective concern.
Shah also addressed criticism from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, stating that the BJP would come to power in West Bengal and tackle infiltration effectively. He accused Banerjee of playing appeasement politics and failing to differentiate between refugees and infiltrators.
Regarding the implementation of the CAA in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, where governments have opposed it, Shah clarified that citizenship rules fall under the purview of the Parliament, not states. He expressed confidence that cooperation would prevail after elections and accused these states of spreading misinformation for political gain.
Shah assured that the CAA would not alter the composition or rights of tribal areas, as provisions have been made to exclude areas with Inner Line Permits and those included in the 6th Schedule of the Constitution from the Act's application.
The implementation of the CAA comes ahead of the announcement of dates for the Lok Sabha elections by the Election Commission of India, marking a significant development in India's citizenship laws.
