Digvijaya Singh questions Centre on need for CAA, cites citizenship granted to Adnan Sami

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday questioned Centre on necessity of introducing Citizenship Amendment Act. Congratulating famous singer Adnan Sami on being bestowed Padma Shri award, Singh claimed that he had himself requested Centre to grant him Indian citizenship. According to Singh, Sami’s case indicated that government always had right to give citizenship to any person irrespective of religion. reafter, he alleged that sole purpose of CAA was to create polarization in Indian polity.  

Read: 'Don't Mess With India's Soul': Fresh Off Padma-Shri Hour, Adnan Sami Warns Tukde Gang

Read: Congress Politicises Adnan Sami's Padma Shri Award; Asks If Praising Govt A ‘criteria’

Journey to become an Indian citizen

Lahore-born Sami originally arrived in India on March 13, 2001, on a visitor’s visa. reafter, his visa was extended from time to time. However, he was forced to apply for citizenship after Pakistan government did t renew his passport that had expired on May 26, 2015. Sami became an Indian citizen from January 1, 2016, under ‘citizenship by naturalisation’ category of  Citizenship Act, 1955.  

Read: Hardeep Singh Puri Congratulates Pak-born Sami On Padma Shri Win, Hopes Shaheen Bagh Protestors Are Listening

What is CAA?

CAA seeks to provide citizenship to mirity communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to members of se communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, y will t be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for se communities has been reduced to five years. opposition contends that Act discriminates on basis of religion. 

Read: Adnan Sami Takes A Sharp Dig At Raza Murad After Latter Questions His Indian Citizenship