Q: How do you see the burning issue of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the agitation against it?

A: As far as I am concerned, the present amendment looks upon people who have already come into India from three specified countries as refugees and it is not an amendment that is applicable in the future. We have given them refuge, which is an act of hospitality. People who are here from a cut-of-date will be given citizenship. I do not think there was any discrimination there, but if the government is restricting it in the name religion, we can say it is not right. My present understand is that they are giving citizenship to all those who have come within the cut-off-date. There is opposition to the bill in India now. In a democracy, all those who oppose need to be heard and protesters should also be handled in the spirit of democracy, where there is right to protest. Personally I am of the view that a solution to this issue should be sought through consensus reached on giving citizenship to refugees through a wide range of consultations.

Abp Kuriakose Bharanikulangara
Faridabad