New Delhi:

The government on Friday responded strongly to the United States’ “will closely monitor” comment on implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, calling the US State Department’s statement “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted”.

“The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights,” the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said this afternoon.

“The Citizenship Amendment Act is an internal matter, and is in keeping with India’s inclusive traditions and long-standing commitment to human rights. The CAA grants 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 December 31 2014.”

“As regards the US State Department’s statement on the implementation of the CAA, we are of the view that it is misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted,” the ministry spokesperson said.

Earlier today US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller was asked if the CAA could affect religious freedom in India. “We are concerned… we are closely monitoring this law (and) how it will be implemented,” Mr Miller responded, adding, “Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles.”

The Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 on Monday, reducing the qualification period of application for citizenship from 11 to 5 years for eligible migrants 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 their Hindu counterparts.