New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated India’s stance on Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), asserting that it is an integral part of India. Shah emphasized that both Hindus and Muslims residing in the region are equally part of India.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave 2024 Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) is part of India. Wahan ke Muslims bhi hamare hain, wahan ke Hindus bhi hamare hain (Muslims residing there are our own, Hindus residing there are our own).”
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Shah responded to queries concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act and the notification of rules for its implementation earlier this week by the Modi government.
- Shah further criticised the opposition parties of misleading the Muslim community and said there is no provision in CAA to take away citizenship.
- Shah highlighted that the law provides citizenship to those covered in its ambit and said that members of minority communities in Pakistan who were feeling persecuted were assured at the time of partition that they could later come to India.
- Shah said it was unfortunate that the country witnessed a religion-based partition in 1947.
- The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) has faced widespread opposition from numerous opposition parties, including the Congress party, which has criticized the law, branding it as “discriminatory.”
- Concerns have also been raised regarding the timing of the law’s notification, with allegations suggesting political motives in influencing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal and Assam.
CITIZENSHIP AMENDMENT ACT (CAA)
- The CAA rules, notified by the central government on March 11, entail conferring Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants – Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians – who migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan and arrived in India before December 31, 2014.
- The Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament in December 2019.
