US senator voices deep concern over CAA’s potential impact on Indian Muslims
Washington: American senator Ben Cardin has expressed deep concern over the potential impact of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Muslims in India after the Modi government notified the rules for its implementation last week.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, terming the CAA as controversial, said he was deeply concerned about the legislation’s ramifications on Indian Muslims.
In a statement, the US senator said, “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 Cardin’s remarks underscore the growing international scrutiny of India’s treatment of its minority communities, particularly in the context of religious freedom and human rights. His statement aligns with broader concerns expressed by international human rights organizations and diplomatic entities regarding the potential marginalization and discrimination faced by Muslims under the CAA.
India implemented the CAA last week, paving the way for the grant of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Last week, the US State Department had expressed concern over the notifying of the CAA and said that respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles.
The CAA, passed in December 2019, sparked controversy both domestically and internationally for its exclusionary nature, granting expedited citizenship to religious minorities from neighboring countries while excluding Muslims. Critics argue that the law discriminates against Muslims, fueling religious tensions and exacerbating social divisions.
