Indian Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the regulations for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) on March 11. The act allows for the granting of citizenship to individuals from Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Christian, Buddhist, and Parsi communities who migrated to India on or before December 31, 2014, from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. This newly implemented legislation in India serves as a delayed yet essential humanitarian step aimed at alleviating the plight of the minority groups who have endured prolonged instances of rape, torture, killings, and ethnic cleansing within the fundamentalist societies of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Last week, the United States expressed its concerns regarding the notification of the CAA in India and mentioned that it is actively monitoring its implementation. Against the backdrop of criticism of the CAA from the United States and various regions worldwide, S Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister, emphasized the significance of contextualizing the act with respect to the Partition. He pointed out that numerous countries have implemented expedited citizenship processes, citing several examples.
"Look, I am not questioning the imperfections or otherwise of their democracy or their principles or lack of it. I am questioning their understanding of our history. If you hear comments from many parts of the world, it is as if the Partition of India never happened, there were no consequential problems which the CAA is supposed to address," Jaishankar said.
So, if you take a problem and "remove all the historical context from it, sanitise it and make it into a political correctness" argument, and say, 'I have principles and don't you have principles', "I have principles too, and one of them is obligation to people who were let down at the time of Partition”, he added.
The External Affairs Minister expressed his concern about individuals who fail to self-reflect and evaluate their own policies. In support of his point, he mentioned specific examples, such as the Jackson-Vanik amendment, which focused on Jews from the Soviet Union, as well as the Lautenberg Amendment and Specter Amendment and "fast-tracking of Hungarians after the Hungarian revolution, fast-tracking of Cubans in 1960s".
"So, if you were to ask me, have other countries, other democracies, fast-tracked on the basis of ethnicity, faith, social attributes, I can give you any number of examples," the minister said.
Jaishankar said it is "not just our predicament. If you look at Europe, many European countries fast-tracked citizenship of people who were left behind on the World War or in some cases much before the World War Some historical issues which were not addressed...I have a moral obligation to that community".
"So, the world is full of examples, and to me the context therefore is very important," the minister said.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the US remark and said that the operationalization of the CAA was an internal matter of India. “Lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions are best not attempted”, he stated.
The Hindu population in both Pakistan and Bangladesh has not merely decreased but has faced the imminent threat of extinction. During the partition of India in 1947, Hindus and Sikhs constituted approximately 23% of the population in Pakistan. However, over the years, their representation as religious minorities has significantly decreased to a mere 3.7% by 2014. Similarly, during the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971, Hindus and Sikhs accounted for around 30% of the population. Tragically, their presence has dramatically diminished to approximately 7%.
In Afghanistan, the population of Sikhs and Hindus has witnessed a drastic decline. From 200,000 individuals in 1992, the number has dwindled to a mere 500 by 2018. At present, there are scarcely any remaining Sikhs or Hindus in the country.
The circumstances faced by these individuals are deeply distressing. Women of all ages have been subjected to rape and forced into prostitution, men have endured brutal massacres unless they embraced a different religion. The pervasive influence of religious extremism has severely curtailed their ability to lead peaceful lives, freely practice their faith, and safeguard their cultural identity.
In a world where fear and persecution often overshadow hope and compassion, the CAA shines as a guiding light and a symbol of optimism and empathy. It serves as a beacon of hope and compassion, extending refuge and solace to those who have endured discrimination and oppression in neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. For many minority communities in these nations, the CAA represents a lifeline—a precious opportunity to escape persecution and establish a fresh start in India, a nation renowned for its rich diversity and inclusive ethos.
India's historical archives provide substantial evidence supporting its long-standing reputation as a sanctuary for persecuted religious minorities across the globe, encompassing communities such as Jews, Parsis, and Christian Syrians. In the present era, India continues to extend an expedited pathway to citizenship exclusively for refugees belonging to minority groups who have not only endured discrimination but also the horrors of ethnic cleansing. This humanitarian initiative should not face opposition from any nation that upholds the principles of human rights.
In fact, the commendation from the peace-loving world is well-deserved, as these actions exemplify India's unwavering commitment to fulfilling its moral duty of ensuring the safety and protection of those who face persecution. By providing a secure haven to those in need, India sets an inspiring example for countries worldwide, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the fundamental rights and well-being of individuals irrespective of their faith or background. Such initiatives contribute to fostering a more compassionate and inclusive global community.
By Manoj Motwani
Comments