India has firmly rejected criticism from the United States about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019, saying it's an internal matter. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, stressed India's position, saying the CAA aims to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
"The CAA is about granting citizenship, not taking it away. It deals with statelessness, respects human dignity, and supports human rights," Jaiswal stated.
Jaiswal's comments were made after the US State Department expressed concerns about the CAA's notification on March 11, stating it is closely watching its implementation and emphasizing religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities.
"We are concerned about the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on March 11," said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a daily briefing.
Responding to Miller's statement, the MEA spokesperson called the US State Department's remarks "misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted."
The Citizenship Act has faced controversy, criticism, and protests across India since its implementation. Recently, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Chief Arvind Kejriwal expressed concerns about employment and potential increases in crime due to migrant influx.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that the law aims to protect persecuted minorities from undivided India and assured it doesn't violate anyone's rights.
