I can only presume your continuous disclaimer that the CAA does not in any manner affect Indian Muslims is a public /political stand which you are forced to take out of compulsion of office. Surely (and again as a lawyer yourself) you would be alive to the raging debate that the CAA fails the test of Article 14 of the Constitution of India, which guarantees to all persons equality before the law and equal protection of laws, irrespective of their religion.

If the CAA seeks to protect religious persecution, then such protection should be available to persons of all religious minorities, from all countries where people may face religious persecution. Uganda during the Idi Amin regime is one such example where Hindus were ousted from his country.

There is a fear that the NRC will be implemented throughout the country, on which conflicting statements have been emerging from the Government of India, which generates no confidence whatsoever. This, when read along with the CAA would automatically deprive many (if not all) Indian Muslims of the rights of citizenship, given the arm twisting method of legislation, which is being carried out by the present regime. The fear that laws can be mutilated, shredded and discarded overnight to suit political objectives is naturally a legitimate concern of many right-minded citizens of our country.

As the Chief Minister of a border State, I too have a grave concern. The language of the CAA does even require that any illegal migrant seeking its benefit need not be of Indian origin in any manner. All they have to be is from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan. This could be a citizen or even a resident, or even a temporary person in transit through these countries. Since the CAA has no requirement of being of Indian origin or having to prove any such origins, this means that any person claiming to be of the six religions could simply apply in terms of the amended law, prove entry on/before the cut-off date and be eligible for citizenship. This could, in fact, be misused for infiltration into our country, particularly in the border states, converting this misguided legislation into a national security threat.

Minister, as heads of responsible Governments of our States, we are neither naive nor misguided. In a federal structure such as ours, it is imperative that the Centre heed the voice which arises from the people of our States. Laws are not to be forcibly imposed on citizens. Like all powers, even Parliamentary power is coupled with the duty to exercise it responsibly.

With best wishes,

(Amarinder Singh)