US Diplomat Expresses Concern Over 'Implications' Of Citizenship (Amendment) Act

Amid protests over the passage of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in India, a top American diplomat responsible for monitoring international religious freedom on Friday expressed concerns regarding the contentious legislation. This comes days before scheduled visits of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Ministe to the United States for 2+2 ministerial talks with their respective American counterparts—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper—on December 18.

In a tweet, Sam Brownback, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, said, “One of India’s great strengths is its Constitution. As a fellow democracy, we respect India’s institutions, but are concerned about the implications of the CAB Bill.”

“We hope the government will abide by its constitutional commitments, including on religious freedom”, Sam Brownback added.

One of #India’s great strengths is its Constitution. As a fellow democracy, we respect India’s institutions, but are concerned about the implications of the #CABBill. We hope the government will abide by its constitutional commitments, including on religious freedom.

— Ambassador Sam Brownback (@IRF_Ambassador) December 13, 2019

Along with Northeast, protests over the Citizenship Act 2019 spilled over to West Bengal on Friday. In the wake of continuous protests against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, the India-Japan summit which was scheduled to be held in Guwahati from December 15 to 17, has also been postponed.

Moreover, after clearing the legislative stage, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 is set to face legal scrutiny in Supreme Court. As many as 13 petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of act.

According to the amended Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and face religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

President Ram Nath Kovind had given assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on Thursday night, turning it into an Act.