CAA to result in statelessness an exaggeration, claims ORF director Harsh Pant

Harsh Pant, Director of the Observer Research Foundation, has said that the EU's claim that the CAA can create the "largest statelessness crisis in the world" is an exaggeration. He was responding to ETV Bharat's query on the EU's decision to move resolutions on CAA and Kashmir.

New Delhi: The diplomatic fire over India's newly enacted citizenship law refuses to end. In the latest, European Union parliament has passed six resolutions backed by 626 MEPs against the CAA claiming that it can lead to the biggest statelessness crisis in the world.

Responding to ETV Bharat's query on this development, Observer Research Foundation's Director Harsh Pant claimed that there is certainly confusion over the CAA that's why it is New Delhi's responsibility to hold talks with concerned stakeholders and make them understand about India's position.

"By claiming that this legislation can lead to a humanitarian crisis is a hyperbole. There is an understanding regarding the CAA that it is meant to give citizenship and not take it. CAA is aimed to give citizenship to the persecuted minorities of six faiths which have been stateless and homeless for years," said Prof Harsh Pant.

The resolution drafted by European parliamentarians asserted that CAA marks a dangerous shift in the way citizenship will be determined in India and will also create the largest statelessness crisis in the world and cause of immense human suffering.

Not only this, but the European lawmakers also accused the Indian government of discriminating, harassing, and prosecuting national and religious minorities. It even accused it of silencing human rights group and journalists critical of the government.

Responding to EU parliament resolution on CAA and Kashmir, Indian Mission in EU called it an independent institution. It even claimed that the resolution was drafted by political groups in the European Parliament.