‘You’re now part of our future’, says Odisha CM as he distributes CAA citizenship certificates
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday distributed citizenship certificates to 35 minorities from neighbouring countries residing in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district who had applied for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019.
Speaking at the event organised for persecuted minorities from neighbouring nations, Chief Minister Majhi likened the CAA to the sacred river Ganga — a force that washes away sins and suffering for those who faced religious persecution in India’s neighbouring countries.
He said the law has provided a path of hope and assurance to communities that endured years of hardship. The Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated the process of granting Indian citizenship to eligible applicants under the CAA, 2019.
According to the rules notified on March 11, 2024, members of minority communities from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship.
Addressing the beneficiaries at the programme jointly organised by the Directorate of Census Operations, Odisha, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Chief Minister welcomed those receiving citizenship.
“You are now part of our future. Your safety, dignity, and development are our responsibility. I wholeheartedly welcome you as citizens of India,” CM Majhi said.
He added that by granting citizenship certificates, India has once again upheld its long-standing values of compassion, humanity, and providing refuge to those in need. The Chief Minister also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for implementing the CAA, 2019.
Explaining the necessity of the legislation, Majhi said: “There are many countries in the world that offer shelter to persecuted followers of various religions. But when Hindus are persecuted in other countries, they have no place to seek refuge except India. If such a law is not enacted in India, then where else would it be made?”
He further underlined that although India has strong advocates for minority rights, the same voices remain silent when minorities are persecuted in neighbouring countries. He added that the era of appeasement in the name of secularism has ended. “Today, there is no discrimination on religious grounds. Before the law, everyone is equal. The Citizenship Amendment Act is a successful expression of this principle,” he noted.
