‘It’s too late’: Hindu American groups hail CAA implementation
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) came into force on Monday with the notification of the rules. CAA paves way for citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh Religious persecution and entered India on or before 31 December 2014, Indian-Americans have praised the Indian government for implementing the CAA.
Hindu American groups such as the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have welcomed the CAA, calling it “long overdue”. He said India’s CAA mirrors the Lautenberg Amendment for religious refugees in the United States, news agency PTI reported.
“The Citizenship Amendment Act of India is long overdue and necessary. It protects some of the most vulnerable refugees in India, providing them with human rights that were denied to them in their home countries, and providing them with a clear and quick path to citizenship needed to begin rebuilding their lives ,” said the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) executive. Director Suhag Shukla.
HAF said that the CAA does not modify the rights of Indian citizens or impose any religious criteria for general immigration, nor does it prevent Muslims from immigrating to India.
“The CAA mirrors the Lautenberg Amendment, long established in the US since 1990, which has provided a clear immigration pathway for people fleeing a select group of countries where religious persecution is rampant,” Shukla said.
However, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has strongly criticized the CAA, terming it “discriminatory” and saying that along with the proposed NRC it marginalises Indian Muslims.
In 2020, on India’s 71st Republic Day, celebrations were disrupted by some people in the US Peaceful protests and marches by a large number of Indian-Americans in various cities Against the recently implemented CAA in the country.
Supporters see CAA as a ray of hope
Supporters of the CAA, such as Pushpita Prasad of the Coalition of Hindus of North America (COHNA), see it as a victory for human rights of persecuted religious minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Prasad clarified that the CAA provides citizenship only to about 31,000 minorities who fled persecution.
She gives examples of religious persecution faced by minorities in these countries.
For example, in Pakistan alone, every year more than 1000 minor girls from minority communities are abducted, forcibly converted and married to their abductors with the support of police and judicial authorities. As a result, frightened families with small children are fleeing to India for basic safety,” Prasad said.
CoHNA had earlier campaigned against misinformation related to CAA.
African-American singer Mary Milben praised the decision of the Indian government. She took it to X and wrote, “This is a true act of democracy”.
“As a Christian, a woman of faith and a global advocate for religious freedom, I applaud the Modi-led government today announcing the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which will now provide freedom to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants, Christians, Provides Indian nationality to Hindus and Sikhs. , Jains, Buddhists and Parsis from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan,” Milben wrote.
Muslim organization calls CAA ‘discriminatory’
In contrast, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) strongly criticized the CAA, calling it “discriminatory”. They believe that the CAA, along with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), targets Indian Muslims and disenfranchises them.
“This law is a flagrant expression of discriminatory intent, designed with the express purpose of discriminating against, disenfranchising and disenfranchising Indian Muslims. Its fraudulent purpose becomes clearly evident when considered along with the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens,” said IAMC president Mohammad Jawad.
The CAA applies to refugees who entered India before December 31, 2014. This law provides a faster path to citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians. From Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, critics argue that this preferential treatment discriminates against Muslims seeking asylum in India.
In early 2020, Communal riots broke out in Delhi On the CAA and NRC issue, in which 53 people were killed and more than 500 others were injured.