CAA Rules: US Senator Expresses Concern Over Citizenship Amendment Act Notification

A US senator has expressed concern over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 rules, saying that as the US-India relationship deepens, it is important that the cooperation is based on shared values of protecting human rights of all, regardless of religion, reported news agency PTI.

The Indian government implemented the CAA  last week, paving the way for the grant of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014. The government also came out with a press statement to say that Indian Muslims need not worry as the CAA will not impact their citizenship and has nothing to do with the community which enjoys equal rights as Hindus.

"I am deeply concerned by the Indian government's decision to notify its controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, particularly the law's potential ramifications on India's Muslim community. Making matters worse is the fact that it is being pushed during the holy month of Ramadan," Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement, reported PTI.

"As the US-India relationship deepens, it is critically important that our cooperation is based on our shared values of protecting the human rights of all persons, regardless of religion," he said.