00:00 The United States expressed its apprehension about India's Citizenship Amendment Act
00:07 (CAA) which was recently enacted by the Indian government to expedite Indian citizenship
00:12 for persecuted migrants from neighboring nations such as Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
00:18 The U.S. State Department stated its vigilance over the implementation of this legislation.
00:23 In a regular press briefing, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller conveyed the U.S.'s
00:27 concern regarding the notification of the CAA Act on March 11.
00:46 He emphasized the importance of monitoring how the Act will be executed, citing the fundamental
00:50 democratic principle of religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all
00:55 communities.
00:56 The rules for implementing the contentious CAA Act 2019 were officially notified on March
01:01 11, marking four years since its passage.
01:04 The move opens its pathway for granting citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan,
01:10 Bangladesh and Afghanistan, according to officials.
01:13 With the issuance of these CAA rules, the Modi government has commenced granting Indian
01:17 nationality to the persecuted non-Muslim migrants from the countries who arrived in India until
01:22 31 December 2014.
01:25 The beneficiaries encompass Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christians.
01:30 India's Ministry of Home Affairs also announced plans to launch a helpline to aid applications
01:35 for Indian citizenship.
01:36 Additionally, a dedicated portal has been set up by the ministry to facilitate the application
01:41 process, which will be entirely online.
01:45 Applications are required to disclose the year of their entry to India without travel
01:48 documents.
01:50 The Union Home Minister has also assured the minorities that the CAA Act does not intend
01:55 to strip anyone of their citizenship.
01:58 He also reiterated that the government's stance is that the Act will not get revoked now and
02:02 has emphasised the commitment to uphold India's sovereign right to regulate citizenship within
02:07 its borders.
02:08 For more information visit www.dfid.gov.uk/cai.
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