Accusations have surfaced, suggesting that a misleading portrayal is circulating regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized on Friday that the CAA does not aim to strip any Indian citizen of their nationality, nor does it bar anyone from seeking Indian citizenship as was previously permitted.
Emphasizing that the CAA facilitates the naturalization of Indian citizenship for minorities in neighboring nations, he questioned, "How can extending a helping hand to those persecuted in our neighboring countries due to their faith be considered discriminatory?"
In an address to the 2023 batch of IAS officer trainees following Phase-I of their professional course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie, the Vice-President clarified that the CAA applies to individuals who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014, and does not invite mass migration. "We must counter these narratives. They stem not from ignorance, but from a deliberate attempt to disparage our nation," he added.
He reaffirmed that India does not require lectures from any entity on the subject of equality. Urging other countries to introspect, he pointed out, "Some nations are yet to witness a female president, whereas we had a female Prime Minister before the UK did. While other countries' Supreme Courts have existed for 200 years without a female judge, we have had them."
Encouraging young minds to reject such orchestrated dissemination of factually incorrect anti-national narratives aimed at staining our esteemed constitutional bodies, he stated.
Highlighting that governance has seen significant improvement in recent years, the Vice-President remarked that the era of privileged lineage is diminishing. "Democratic principles are strengthening as equal treatment under the law is being implemented effectively, and corruption is no longer a currency for transactions. Previously, it was the sole gateway to contracts, appointments, and opportunities," he elaborated.
Pointing out that some privileged individuals once believed themselves to be above the law and immune to legal proceedings, he queried, "How can anyone in a democratic nation like ours claim to be more equal than others?"
Noting that corrupt elements that previously exploited decision-making processes have been ousted from positions of power, the Vice-President emphasized that the nation has emerged from despondency. India has transformed into a land of promise and potential. Asserting a prevailing optimism across the nation, he declared, "India is not merely a nation with potential or a dormant force... it is in motion."
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