Several Hindu refugees from Pakistan staged a protest on Thursday outside Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal's residence over his remarks on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Earlier on Wednesday, Kejriwal slammed the BJP-led central government for passing the CAA ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, claiming it diverts attention away from pressing economic issues.
In a video statement, Kejriwal chastised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he sees as opening India's doors to Pakistani and Bangladeshi residents under the CAA, describing it as a risky move that could have disastrous consequences for the country, particularly in states such Assam.
"What is the CAA? The BJP government at the Centre says that minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan will be granted Indian citizenship. This means that a large number of minorities will be brought into our country. They will be given jobs and houses built for them," Kejriwal stated.
Responding to Kejriwal's remarks, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in an interview with ANI, said, "He (Kejriwal) is unaware that all of these individuals have already sought refuge in our country. They live in India. Those who arrive in our country by 2014 will become citizens".
Migrants from six minority communities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh will be granted citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act retroactively. The CAA expedites citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities who came to India from three neighbouring countries on or before December 31, 2014.