New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind reiterated about the Citizenship Act and said that existing procedures to obtain Indian citizenship remains unchanged for all the faiths across the world.
President Kovind said, ” My Government would like to clarify once again that the procedures which have existed for people from all faiths of the world who believe in India and who wish to obtain Indian citizenship, remain unchanged.”
“A person of any faith can follow these processes and become a citizen of India,” he said.
“The Government has made several provisions to ensure that granting citizenship to those who have been compelled to take shelter in India does not have any adverse cultural impact on any region, especially the Northeast,” President added.
Speaking about the Citizenship Amendment Act, President Kovind said after the Partition, Mahatma Gandhi had said that Hindus and Sikhs who don’t want to reside in Pakistan can come to India and it is the Indian government’s responsibility to provide them means to lead normal life.
“Supporting this vision of Mahatma Gandhi, various governments from time-to-time have taken steps to further this. It is our duty to honour the wishes of our founding fathers. I am happy that by passing the Citizenship Amendment Act with a majority, both the houses of Parliament have fulfilled the wishes of Mahatma Gandhi,” President Kovind said.
