Muslims are as much part of India as any other citizen: MJ Akbar speaks in favour of CAA at UN meet

The veteran journalist said India’s most important characteristic is its plurality and the Constitution of India gives equal rights to everyone irrespective of its religion, and Muslims are as much part of India as any other citizen from any other religion, according to media reports.

Chief Imam of India Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Journalist Atika Ahmed Farooqui, Executive Director of South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) Paulo Casaca and Member of European Parliament Fulvio Martusciello were in the discussion panel among others.

Taking a jibe at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, Akbar said one tends to make "rhetorical points" when in opposition and Tharoor was far away from reality.

“Hindus and Muslims are one. God created them and no one can separate them,” Akbar quoted Mahatma Gandhi while concluding his speech.

Fulvio Martusciello stressed on the brotherhood and peace among the people of all the religions in India and clarified that the CAA does not have any provisions that include the citizens of India and instead provides several rights, including educational and voting rights to the minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan living as refugees in India due to religious persecution in their own countries.

According to a Zee News report, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, the Chief Imam of All India Imam Organisation, said, "India has the second-largest number of Muslims in the world and provides equal citizenship for everyone, India is a secular democracy."

He slammed Pakistan saying Indian Muslims were safer than anywhere in the world and it should stop interfering in the internal matters of India. Stating that citizenship in India is not restricted to any religion, he pointed out that any Muslim, who is not a citizen of India, can apply for Indian citizenship provided
they fulfill the provisions of the Citizenship Act of 1955.

Journalist Atika Farooqui, who covers minority issues in India, said the CAA has no provisions of taking away the citizenship of any Indian by any means.

“We, Indians, are just curious and hardworking people with Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Hindu sounding names," the Zee report quoted her as saying.

Paulo Casaca, Executive Director of South Asia Democratic Forum and Former Member of European Parliament pointed out the role played by the European Parliament in facilitating the false campaign against the CAA. He asked the European Union to first improve the condition of the refugees living along its borders and stop interfering in the internal matters of India.

European Commission member Brian Toll, who is also an expert on South Asia, said India is the only country that has embraced the people of all religions and culture and absorbed their ethos in its plurality. People of all caste, creed and religion are offered equal opportunities in India.