Updated January 26th, 2020 at 21:30 IST
Digvijaya Singh questions Centre on need for CAA, cites citizenship granted to Adnan Sami
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday questioned the Centre on the necessity of introducing the Citizenship Amendment Act citing Adnan Sami's case.
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Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday questioned the Centre on the necessity of introducing the Citizenship Amendment Act. Congratulating famous singer Adnan Sami on being bestowed the Padma Shri award, Singh claimed that he had himself requested the Centre to grant him Indian citizenship. According to Singh, Sami’s case indicated that the government always had the right to give citizenship to any person irrespective of religion. Thereafter, he alleged that the sole purpose of the CAA was to create polarization in the Indian polity.
Congratulations to all Padma Awardees. I am very happy that Adnan Sami famous singer and musician and Pakistani Muslim immigrant has also been given Padma Shri. I had also recommended his case to GOI for giving him Indian Citizenship. He was given Indian Citizenship by Modi Govt.
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28)
Read: 'Don't Mess With India's Soul': Fresh Off Padma-Shri Honour, Adnan Sami Warns Tukde Gang
GOI had full rights to give Citizenship to anyone from any religion who sought Indian Citizenship. Then why CAB/CAA? Just to polarise Indian Polity further. What would GOI do now if any Muslim of Eminence if prosecuted in Pak Afghanistan or Bangladesh seeks Indian Citizenship?
— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28)
Read: Congress Politicises Adnan Sami's Padma Shri Award; Asks If Praising Govt A ‘criteria’
Journey to become an Indian citizen
The Lahore-born Sami originally arrived in India on March 13, 2001, on a visitor’s visa. Thereafter, his visa was extended from time to time. However, he was forced to apply for citizenship after the Pakistan government did not renew his passport that had expired on May 26, 2015. Sami became an Indian citizen from January 1, 2016, under the ‘citizenship by naturalisation’ category of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
What is the CAA?
The CAA seeks to provide citizenship to the minority communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, they will not be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, the mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for these communities has been reduced to five years. The opposition contends that the Act discriminates on the basis of religion.
Read: Adnan Sami Takes A Sharp Dig At Raza Murad After Latter Questions His Indian Citizenship
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Published January 26th, 2020 at 21:30 IST