Srinagar, Mar 16: Addressing the India Today Conclave 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the Indian government’s steadfast stance on Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), emphasizing that it is an integral part of India, and so are its inhabitants, irrespective of their religious backgrounds.
In his first public comments on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) since its implementation on March 11, Shah underlined that both Muslims and Hindus of POK are considered integral to India.
“The CAA, recently implemented by the central government, aims to provide a pathway to Indian citizenship for non-Muslim communities facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan,” Shah explained during his address.
Highlighting the rationale behind excluding Muslims from the CAA, Shah pointed out the Islamic character of the three neighboring countries mentioned in the legislation.
Responding to queries regarding the absence of Muslims from the CAA’s ambit, Shah provided historical context, citing the drastic decline in the Hindu population of Pakistan since Independence due to persecution and forced conversions.
Under the provisions of the CAA, persecuted minorities who entered India before December 31, 2014, and have resided in the country for at least five years are eligible for Indian citizenship. This includes Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis from the aforementioned nations.
Shah emphasized that policies such as the CAA are formulated to address significant challenges faced by persecuted communities, rejecting assertions that they are based on isolated incidents.
While affirming the government’s willingness to consider other persecuted communities, Shah stressed the immediate priority of addressing the plight of those already included in the CAA.
Dismissing speculations linking the CAA’s implementation to the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Shah reaffirmed that the legislation had always been part of the BJP’s agenda.
“The enactment of the CAA is the fulfillment of India’s promise since 1950, which was left unrealized by the Congress,” Shah asserted.
The CAA, passed by Parliament in December 2019, marks a significant legislative milestone in India’s approach towards persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, embodying the government’s commitment to humanitarian values and protection of religious freedom.
Both Muslims and Hindus of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are our own: Home Minister Amit Shah
