MEA Dismisses US Concerns: CAA Reaffirmed

newsonbox.com

9 months ago

Spread Info.

MEA dismisses US concerns and reaffirms CAA as India’s internal matter aligned with inclusive principles, upholding human rights.

US watching over the CAA’s implementation:

Spokesman for the US State Department Matthew Miller told reporters during his daily briefing on Thursday, “We are concerned about the notification of the Citizenship Amendment Act on March 11.” We are keeping a careful eye on how this Act is used. Mr. Miller continued, “Basic democratic ideals include respect for religious freedom and treating all communities equally under the law.

MEA’s Response to US Concerns:

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed US concerns on Friday, calling them “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted,” and stated that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 is an internal affair of India that is in line with the country’s inclusive principles.

Mr. Jaiswal responded, saying that everyone in India has the right to freedom of religion under the country’s constitution. Regarding how minorities are treated, there is nothing to be concerned about. Vote-bank politics has no business dictating opinions regarding a commendable effort to assist those in need. It is best to avoid attending lectures given by those who are ignorant of India’s diverse traditions and the post-Partition history of the area.

Clarification on the Purpose of the CAA:

“It is important to emphasize that the CAA is about granting citizenship, not taking it away. It provides human dignity, solves the problem of statelessness, and upholds human rights,” he stated. The MEA spokeswoman responded to US State Department concerns regarding CCA by saying, “We believe that the State Department’s statement on CAA implementation is misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted. Several more people have made statements.”

Overview of the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019:

“The Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 is an internal concern of India that aligns with the country’s human rights legacy and inclusive values. According to MEA Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly media briefing, minorities subject to persecution from the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, are granted shelter under the legislation.

Excluded Muslims:

On December 11, 2019, the CAA was approved by the Parliament, and the next day, the Indian President signed it into law. The bill, which sought to offer citizenship to Afghan, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani religious minorities under persecution—apart from Muslims—was met with intense opposition in many Indian states, particularly Assam and Delhi. The CAA notes that “the constitutions of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh provide for a specific state religion,” but it does not explain why Muslims are not included in the list of community.