New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday emphasized the rights of persecuted Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh to reside in India, asserting that they have equal claim to the country’s soil as any Indian citizen.
Addressing the ‘Narendra Mohan Smriti Lecture’ and ‘Sahitya Srishti Samman’ ceremony organised by Hindi daily Dainik Jagran here the Union Home Minister highlighted the moral and civilizational ties that bind these minorities to India, stating that while those who have faced religious persecution are welcome, illegal entrants without such persecution are considered infiltrators. Shah warned that unrestricted immigration could transform India into a “Dharamshala,” a place of refuge rather than a sovereign nation. He presented demographic data from various censuses to illustrate how infiltration has affected the population balance over the decades, noting a gradual increase in the Muslim population relative to Hindus. Shah stressed the interconnectedness of issues related to infiltration, demographic change, and democracy, asserting that understanding these matters is crucial for preserving India’s culture and independence. In defending the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Shah clarified that the law does not strip anyone of their citizenship but aims to grant it to refugees, particularly Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Christians fleeing persecution. He argued that the CAA addresses historical injustices faced by displaced Hindu families who have lived in India for generations without access to basic rights and entitlements. Shah criticized the Congress party for the partition decision based on religion, which he claimed led to the oppression of these communities for decades. He contended that the CAA was misrepresented and faced unjust protests, despite its intent to rectify past wrongs and provide essential rights to those affected.
