New Delhi: The chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has questioned the timing of the Narendra Modi government's decision to notify the Citizenship Amendment Rules, thereby bringing the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act into being.

US Senator Ben Cardin said that he was “deeply concerned” by the decision and its “potential ramifications” for India’s Muslim community, The Hindu reported. “Making matters worse is the fact that it is being pushed during the holy month of Ramadan (Ramzan). As the US-India relationship deepens, it is critically important that our cooperation is based on our shared values of protecting the human rights of all persons, regardless of religion,” Cardin said.

Earlier too, the US had expressed concerns about the rules. “We are concerned about the notification of CAA on March 11. We are closely monitoring how this act will be implemented,” a state department spokesperson told Reuters. “Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles.”

While the Ministry of External Affairs had reacted sharply to the state department's comments, it has refused to say anything on Cardin's remarks. India had called the state department spokesperson's comments “misplaced, misinformed and unwarranted”.

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