“No Indian Muslim should fear CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). It is not meant for them. The law is dedicated to the migrants hailing from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said Syed Zainul Abedin, the Ajmer Dargah chief.
He made this comment on Thursday, while addressing a religious conference, namely, ‘Paigam-e-Mohabbat Hum Sab Ka Bharat’ in Rajasthan, Jaipur. Besides venturing into the spiritual discourse for those in attendance, Abedin’s comment on CAA has gained prominent attention from several quarters and not just the Muslims.
He, further, added: “No Muslim will lose one’s citizenship if CAA is implemented. Rather, the migrants from other countries who have settled in India will get permanent citizenship with the help of the act.”
While some might say that he is speaking in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the state and centre, others see it as a move to quell the anxiety among certain sections of the society regarding the imposition of CAA.
His speech was even dedicated towards other sensitive issues of Mathura and Kashi. In relation to which he opined: “Such sensitive issues should be resolved with mutual understanding outside legal proceedings.”
Additionally, Abedin was heard advocating for the need of a constructive understanding between the government and locals to cease all sorts of disputes. However, his remark in support of CAA has taken the centre stage.
Reportedly, Abedin and his son are frequently heard to uphold the doctrines of secularism, enshrined in our Constitution and pronounce India to be the safest country for both Hindu and Muslims to stay together.
What is CAA?
CAA was passed by Parliament in December 2019. The bill was signed by the then President of India, Ramnath Kovind. The law is aimed at providing Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants who faced religious atrocities in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The act, which is touted to be contentious, saw massive protests in several parts of the country. The most notable one was that at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh.
The discussion around CAA has again gained momentum with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent claim that the rules of the act will be issued, ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
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