The United States has expressed its concerns about the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India and stated that it is closely monitoring the implementation of this contentious law. In a statement released on Thursday, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the importance of religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities, emphasizing these as fundamental democratic principles.
The Biden administration's statement coincides with the rollout of the CAA, which aims to grant citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. While Hindu American groups have welcomed the implementation of the CAA, it has sparked protests from opposition parties in India.
In response to concerns raised, the Indian government clarified through a press statement that the CAA would not affect the citizenship status of Indian Muslims and reaffirmed their equal rights. The government assured that the CAA is primarily aimed at granting citizenship and reiterated that no citizen of India would lose their citizenship due to this legislation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has objected to the enactment of the CAA, denouncing it as discriminatory and alleging that it differentiates between people based on their faith. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson criticized the law, claiming it was premised on a false assumption about the persecution of minorities in Muslim-majority countries in the region.
Pakistan called on Indian authorities to cease what it described as the "pre-choreographed targeting and systematic marginalization of minorities inside India." This exchange highlights the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring countries regarding issues of citizenship and minority rights.
