Amit Shah: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the commitment to implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The CAA, passed in December 2019, aims to provide citizenship to persecuted refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, particularly those belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities.
Addressing the ET Now-Global Business summit in Delhi, Amit Shah clarified the intent behind the CAA, emphasizing that it is designed to grant citizenship to refugees rather than revoke anyone’s citizenship. He refuted claims of provocation against the Muslim community, asserting that the CAA does not contain provisions for stripping citizenship.
Amit Shah criticized the previous Congress government for reneging on its commitment to implementing the CAA, highlighting the party’s historical promise to welcome refugees and provide them with Indian citizenship.
Amidst the controversies and protests surrounding the CAA, the Shah reaffirmed its humanitarian objective, emphasizing its aim to aid individuals who have endured persecution in their native lands.
Looking ahead to the Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) prospects, predicting a significant victory under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for a third consecutive term.
“Regarding potential alliances with parties like the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Shah affirmed the BJP’s stance on family planning but not in politics, suggesting cautious consideration of new alliances within the NDA framework”.
