“Misplaced, Misinformed, and Unwarranted”: India Dismisses US's Concerns, Asserts CAA as an “Internal Matter”

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday asserted that the Citizenship Amendment Act is “an internal matter” and in adherence to India’s “inclusive traditions and long-standing commitment to human rights” in response to the United States of America’s “we are closely monitoring this Act” statement over the implementation of CAA. The MEA noted that the US’s observation is “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted.”

"The Citizenship Amendment Act is an internal matter and is in keeping with India's inclusive traditions and long-standing commitment to human rights. The CAA grants safe haven to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, who have entered India on or before December 31 2014,” said Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. “"The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights," he added.

Reacting to the US’s concerns over the implementation of the CAA and how it might mitigate religious freedom in a democracy, the MEA noted that such observations are misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted. ““As regards the US State Department's statement on the implementation of the CAA, we are of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted," said the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The US earlier on Friday morning flagged concerns over the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in India. “We are concerned about the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on March 11. We are closely monitoring this Act - how this Act will be implemented,” said Matthew Miller, the State Department Spokesperson. "Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles," Miller added.

The Home Ministry notified the implementation of the CAA rules on March 11, allowing expedited citizenship for refugees from specified religious minorities in neighbouring countries. The CAA aims to grant citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Christians who fled religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.​