Referring to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Shah said people who came to India after facing religious persecution should be granted citizenship. He said around 162 people from Pakistan and Afghanistan have been given citizenship in Uttarakhand.
Shah said, “When the government introduced CAA, leaders of Opposition parties had created a lot of uproar in Parliament. Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain refugees who came from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan have as much right over this country as the citizens of this country have.”
He added, “Due to the politics of appeasement, these refugees were deprived of citizenship from the time of Independence until now. After enduring hardships, they came to India as refugees seeking shelter.” Shah asked whether India should not grant citizenship to those who have come here to protect their religion and the honour of the women in their families.
