Bangladeshi Hindus, Sikhs and Jains to Get Indian Citizenship Within 6 Months

Bangladeshi Hindus, Sikhs and Jains who have come to India as refugees will receive Indian citizenship within the next six months, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah has announced.

He made the announcement at a public rally in Siliguri, West Bengal, on Friday (August 21), according to The Times of India.

Amit Shah said those who came to India from Bangladesh due to religious persecution and applied for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be granted citizenship within six months. He said the Union Home Ministry was coordinating with the state administration on the matter.

He also said district magistrates in eight districts of West Bengal had been authorized to grant citizenship to eligible applicants under the CAA. He assured that the refugees would be granted Indian citizenship with dignity.

Earlier, on Wednesday (August 19), the Home Ministry authorized district magistrates in eight border states and Union Territories to process pending CAA applications.

Amit Shah also said the West Bengal government would identify and deport all “infiltrators” from the state.