The external affairs ministry on Friday sought to silence criticism from overseas, including the US, about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act saying those with a limited understanding of “India’s pluralistic traditions” should avoid lecturing the country.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to questions about the overseas criticism, said that the CAA was India’s internal matter and in keeping with the country’s “inclusive traditions and our longstanding commitment to human rights”.

“The Act grants a safe haven to persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before 31st December, 2014,” he said.

“The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of (the) statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights.”

Specifically, on the US state department’s comments on the CAA, Jaiswal said: “We are of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted.”

On Thursday, asked about the CAA excluding Muslims from the citizenship pathway created for persecuted minorities from three specified countries, US state department spokesperson Matt Miller had expressed concern.

“We are concerned about the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on March 11,” Miller said. “We are closely monitoring this act — how this act will be implemented. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles.”

Jaiswal underlined that the Constitution of India guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens. “There are no grounds for any concern on (the) treatment of minorities. Vote-bank politics should not determine views about a laudable initiative to help those in distress,” he said.

He did not explain whose vote-bank politics the government had in mind while formulating this response.

Continuing in the same vein, Jaiswal said: “Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions and the region’s post-Partition history are best not attempted. Partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent with which this step has been taken.”

After its enactment in December 2019, the CAA had drawn criticism from various parts of the world, and the European Parliament had lined up a joint resolution on it in 2020. A scheduled vote on the resolution never took place because of the onset of
the pandemic.