‘CAA does not cancel…’: Govt issues statement for 18 crore Indian Muslims amid protests

livemint.com:

Also Read: Here are ‘key issues’ that the Citizenship Law may solve To allay fears of discrimination against Muslims in India, the MHA released a statement saying 18 crore Indian Muslims have equal rights like their Hindu counterparts and no citizen would be asked to produce any documents to prove his citizenship. "Indian Muslims need not worry as 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," the ministry said in the statement. Also Read: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma: 'I will resign if…' The government said due to the persecution of minorities in some Muslim countries, "the name of Islam was badly tarnished".

"However, Islam, being a peaceful religion, never preaches or suggests hatred/violence/any persecution on religious grounds. This Act, showing compassion and compensation for the persecution, protects Islam from being tarnished in the name of persecution," it added.

The government said the concern of a section of the people that CAA is against Muslims is "unjustifiable". Also Read: Indian Union Muslim League files plea before Supreme Court to stay CAA Rules 2024 "India does not have any pact or agreement with any of these countries to repatriate migrants back to these countries.

This Citizenship Act doesn’t deal with the deportation of illegal immigrants and therefore the concern of a Section of the people including Muslims and students that CAA is against Muslim Minorities is unjustifiable," it added. The Centre said the Act doesn't prevent any Muslim, who is persecuted for