India dismisses US concerns on CAA implementation, calls it 'internal matter'

PTC Web Desk: Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while dismissing the United States' statement as ill-informed and irrelevant, on Thursday said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 was India's internal affair. New Delhi asserted its stance following the US expression of concerns over the CAA's implementation.

"We note with concern the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on March 11. We are closely monitoring its implementation," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, stressing the importance of religious freedom and equal treatment.

Responding to US concerns, New Delhi emphasised that it is not receptive to lectures from those with a limited understanding of India's diverse traditions. The CAA, which grants citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries, aims to address statelessness, uphold human dignity, and support human rights.

"India's constitution guarantees religious freedom, and there is no basis for concern regarding minority rights," stated the MEA. "Criticism based on vote bank politics is unwarranted, and those unfamiliar with India's pluralistic history should refrain from offering opinions," the spokesperson added.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, came into effect on March 11, sparking controversy, particularly among non-BJP-ruled states' chief ministers who vowed to challenge it. The Act expedites citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis fleeing religious persecution in neighboring countries before December 31, 2014.

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