The Union home affairs ministry”s press release that said the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) “protects Islam from being tarnished in the name of persecution” is no longer available on the Press Information Bureau (PIB) webpage or on its X (formerly Twitter) page, The Wire reported.
Titled “Positive Narrative on Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019” and presented in a question-and-answer format, the release assured that the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA), aimed to safeguard Islam from unjust associations with persecution and that Muslim citizens of India wouldn”t face any impact on their citizenship status due to the CAA.
The release was published on the PIB website at 6:43 PM on Tuesday, March 12. Its content, which was also shared on the PIB’s X page under the banner of “CAA myth busters”, is also missing.
The Centre on Monday notified The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, implementing the law across the country under which non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan fleeing religious persecution can seek Indian citizenship. Persons from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian communities from these countries, who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, can seek citizenship under the law.
However, the exclusion of Muslims from the legislation”s provisions, coupled with concerns that it could lead to the disenfranchisement of many Muslims in India, particularly in conjunction with the National Register of Citizens, has sparked widespread apprehension and protests among citizens nationwide.
Although Parliament passed the legislation in late 2019, its implementation was stalled until the government formally notified its rules now.
The release from the home affairs ministry addressed several key questions regarding the impact and intent of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), offering insights into its implications for Islam”s portrayal, Indian Muslims, citizenship documentation, and the rationale behind amending the Citizenship Act.
Regarding the impact on Islam”s image, the release said: “Due to the persecution of Minorities in those three Muslim countries, the name of Islam was badly tarnished all around the world. However, Islam, being a peaceful religion, never preaches or suggests hatred/violence/any persecution on religious ground.”
“This Act showing the compassion and compensation for the persecution, protects Islam from being tarnished in the name of persecution,” it added.
The release reiterated that Indian Muslims need not worry, as the CAA “has not made any provision to impact their citizenship and has nothing to do with the present 18 crore Indian Muslims, who have equal rights like their Hindu counterparts”.
“No Indian citizen would be asked to produce any document to prove his citizenship after this Act,” it added.
Addressing concerns about deportation, the release clarified that the CAA does not pertain to the deportation of illegal immigrants, emphasizing that the Act”s focus is on providing relief to persecuted minorities rather than targeting any specific religious community.
When questioned about the necessity of amending the Citizenship Act, the release highlighted the humanitarian aspect of providing amnesty to persecuted minorities and the need to regulate illegal migration. It emphasized India”s longstanding tradition of generosity towards those in need while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining control over illegal immigration.
“To show the mercy on the persecuted minorities of those three countries, this Act gives opportunity to them as per the evergreen generous culture of India to get Indian Citizenship for their happy and prosperous future,” its answer to the question read.
It added: “To customise the Citizenship system and control the illegal migrants, there was need of this Act.”
