New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti on Friday (March 15) said the United States “can’t give up on principles” amid an exchange between the two countries over India’s implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
Garcetti, while speaking at the India Today Conclave, said the principle of religious freedom and equality was a cornerstone of democracy.
“But you can’t give up on principles, no matter how close you are with friends, or if it comes from your worst enemy, when those are principles that you stand for,” said the ambassador.
“We invite you to do the same for our imperfect democracy. It’s not a one-way street,” Garcetti further said.
On the same day, India rebuked the US, dismissing its expressed concern about the notification of the CAA as “misinformed” and implying that Washington’s criticism was allegedly driven by “vote bank politics.”
The Indian government had notified the rules for implementing the CAA, which was passed by the parliament over four years ago. The rules would also allow minorities persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to acquire citizenship in India, but it does not accord this privilege to Muslim minority groups in those countries like Ahmeddiyas and Hazaras.
At the daily briefing on Thursday in Washington, the US state department spokesperson Mathew Miller said, “So we are concerned about the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on March 11. We are closely monitoring this act – how this act will be implemented.”
He added that the “respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles.”
Also read: Understanding CAA Rules, the Process, and What It Means to Resist
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reacted sharply that CAA is “an internal matter of India and is in keeping with India’s inclusive traditions and our long-standing commitment to human rights”.
He described the US State department’s remarks as “misplaced, misinformed, and unwarranted”.
“India’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion to all its citizens. There are no grounds for any concern on treatment of minorities. Vote bank politics should not determine views about a laudable initiative to help those in distress,” asserted Jaiswal.
He added that the “lectures by those who have a limited understanding of India’s pluralistic traditions and the region’s post-partition history are best not attempted.”
“Partners and well-wishers of India should welcome the intent with which this step has been taken,” said the MEA spokesperson.
He claimed that the CAA granted safe haven to “persecuted minorities belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before December 31, 2014”.
Published on March 15 at 9 pm, this story has been updated with the comments of Eric Garcetti, US Ambassador to India.
