By Muslim Mirror Staff
For the past one week, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated group has been organising camps and issuing “eligibility certificates” to members of the Hindu community from Pakistan to help them apply for citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has taken the initiative to issue Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) eligibility certificates to Hindu refugees from Pakistan. This move comes amidst ongoing debates and discussions regarding the controversial CAA, which offers expedited citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries, including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians, who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.
The RSS-backed group’s decision to issue these certificates marks an attempt to streamline the process for Pakistani Hindus seeking Indian citizenship under the CAA. The certificates serve as documentation to prove eligibility for citizenship under the provisions of the CAA, providing relief to many who have faced challenges in securing official recognition of their refugee status.
Rajasthan, being a border state, has witnessed a significant influx of refugees from Pakistan over the years, particularly from minority communities facing persecution. Hindu refugees from Pakistan often cite religious discrimination, forced conversions, and other forms of persecution as reasons for fleeing their homeland and seeking refuge in India. However, the bureaucratic hurdles and lengthy legal procedures have posed obstacles to their integration and citizenship in India.
The issuance of CAA eligibility certificates by the RSS group is seen as a proactive measure to address these challenges and facilitate the assimilation of persecuted Hindu refugees into Indian society. By providing tangible documentation of their eligibility for citizenship, the certificates empower refugees to navigate the complex legal framework and expedite the process of obtaining Indian nationality.
The CAA grants citizenship to members of six “persecuted” non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
The move has drawn both praise and criticism from various quarters. Proponents argue that it is a humanitarian gesture aimed at providing relief to persecuted minorities and upholding India’s commitment to protecting religious minorities facing persecution in neighboring countries. They view it as a pragmatic step to address the plight of refugees who have been languishing in uncertainty for years. ( With Agencies Inputs )