Syed Ahmed Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, has said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (2019) has nothing to do with Muslims who are Indian citizens and called for restraint during protests and asked protesters to check their emotions while exercising the “democratic right” to protest, reports News18.
Bukhari said, “Under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Muslim refugees who come to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh will not get Indian citizenship. It has nothing to do with the Muslims living in India.”
Bukhari also tried to clear the air with regards to National Register of Citizens (NRC), which has made many Muslims panic, saying it had not become a law yet.
Bukhari added,” There is a difference between CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC). One is CAA that has become a law, and the other is NRC that has only been announced, it has not become a law.”
Meanwhile the Supreme Court of India refused to stay the validity of CAA, however it has decided to examine the constitutional validity of it, and a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant fixed the pleas of various parties against this bill for a hearing on 22 January, next year.