Ahmedabad: In a historic first for Gujarat, 188 Pakistani Hindus in Ahmedabad were awarded Indian citizenship on Sunday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in accordance with the recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The moment of receiving their Indian citizenship was a profound relief for these individuals who had fled religious persecution in Pakistan and were seeking safety in India.
Speaking at the event, Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress-led INDIA bloc’s appeasement tactics while asserting that the government is still committed to granting citizenship to oppressed minorities, such as Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Hindus from neighbouring countries.
Shah stated, “I congratulate these families who got citizenship. I am even happier that this is happening in Gujarat. CAA is an initiative to give people their rights and justice. The Congress party never gave people their rights until 2014. Lakhs and crores of people kept waiting for their rights, but they never got justice under the INDIA bloc.”
Notably, the Gujarat government has granted Indian citizenship to 1,167 people in Ahmedabad district under CAA, so far.
Giving a historical context of CAA, Shah added, “Crores of Indians cannot forget the issues faced by people during Partition based on religion. Congress did not give citizenship to our people to appease their vote bank. Our history will always remember this. What was the fault of these people who left their property and came here to save their daughters and wives? The law is to safeguard these people. Crores of Hindus, Jain, and Sikh will get justice through this law.”
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He also sought to dispel concerns among the Muslim community, clarifying, “I want to make it clear for my Muslim brothers and sisters that this is not to take anyone’s citizenship but to give them citizenship. Earlier, many people were provoked against this law. No one will have to give up their citizenship. Some people just want to mislead the larger public. Your jobs, house, and citizenship are safe. This law is only to give you justice.”
In addition to the citizenship ceremony, Amit Shah launched development projects worth approximately Rs 1,000 crore in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. He also inaugurated the Oxygen Park of Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) in the city’s Bodakdev area, a testament to the government’s commitment to environmental conservation.
He urged citizens to join a nationwide tree plantation campaign to protect the environment, inspiring a collective effort towards a greener future.
Shah praised AMC’s initiative to plant 30 lakh trees in 100 days, emphasising the importance of environmental conservation. “I request the citizens of Ahmedabad to join AMC in sowing 30 lakh saplings in the coming 100 days. This is an initiative by AMC. Ahmedabad people should also plant saplings in society and schools and take care of low carbon emissions. We need to increase more oxygen; it is our collective responsibility.”
Shah highlighted the global environmental challenge: “Global warming is a threat to human life today. ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ is an initiative by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and we should follow it. We should raise a plant like our child.”
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–IANS
