‘Govt to ensure citizenship to persecuted people’

New Delhi: Unfazed by the protests against the amended Citizenship Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday asserted the Modi government will ensure that the non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan get Indian nationality and live in the country with honour.
Shah also challenged those, who are against the new law, to oppose the legislation as much as they can. “Come what may, the Modi government is firm that it will ensure these refugees get Indian citizenship and live as Indians with honour,” he said at an event here.
The home minister said no Indian will lose his or her nationality due to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and the legislation has been enacted to give citizenship to persecuted minorities of the three neighbouring countries. He asked students who are opposing the legislation to read it properly and understand its meaning.
“I want to tell our Muslim bothers and sisters, you don’t need to fear. Those who are living in India, there is no need to fear. No one is going to lose Indian citizenship. The Congress is trying to mislead people. The legislation is on the website. Read it. Narendra Modi believes in ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’. No injustice will be done to anyone,” he said.
According to the act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and are facing religious persecution there, will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. (PTI)