Home Ministry Clarifies CAA's Implications for Indian Muslims, Dispel Confusion

After the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, went into effect, the Union Home Ministry released a statement emphasizing that Indian Muslims need not fear because it contains no provisions that will impact the citizenship of the 18 crore Muslims who now reside in India.

In addition, the announcement on Tuesday stated that following the act's adoption, no Indian person will be required to provide any documentation to prove their citizenship.

"Indian Muslims do not need to be concerned; the CAA does not contain any provisions that could affect their citizenship and is unrelated to the 18 crore Indian Muslims who currently enjoy equal rights with Hindu equivalents. After this Act, no Indian citizen would be required to show any documentation as proof of his citizenship, according to the press release.

The release, according to BJP sources, was made in response to reports that there was confusion among minority communities in some areas, especially in Bengal's border regions, where people began enquiring as to whether they would need to prove their citizenship once the CAA was put into effect.

The release also clarified that there was no plan in place to return undocumented Muslim migrants to Bangladesh, Afghanistan, or Pakistan because concerns had been raised about whether these minority groups would be sent back to their neighbors if they were unable to prove their citizenship.

"India and any of these nations have no agreement or contract to return migrants to their homelands. The announcement states, "Since the Citizenship Act does not address the expulsion of illegal immigrants, the concerns expressed by some individuals—including Muslims and students—that the Act is biased toward Muslim minorities are unfounded.

After doubts were made over why the CAA did not permit Muslims to petition for citizenship, the ministry also stated that Muslim migrants from any foreign nation may also apply for Indian citizenship.

The Naturalization Laws are still in effect despite CAA. Thus, anyone who wishes to become an Indian citizen and is a Muslim immigrant from anywhere in the world may do so in accordance with the regulations now in place," the press release states.

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