EAM S Jaishankar Gives Reference To CAA In Response To Joe Biden's 'Xenophobia' Remark

Days after US President Joe Biden's 'xenophobia' remark directed at a host of other Asian countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has responded on the matter in an interview.

He stated that India's society has always been "very open" to people from other societies.

EAM S Jaishankar On Biden's 'Xenophobia' Remark

To support this point, it was mentioned by the minister that the Central government's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is designed "to open up doors for people who are in trouble". "It's why the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) exists, which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble... I think we should be open to people who need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India," he said in an interview with the Economic Times.

Earlier this week, Joe Biden's statement alleged that India and other countries' economies were stalling due to xenophobia. However, he mentioned that the United States had been performing well economically. "In an interview published on Saturday, S Jaishankar emphasized that India's economy wasn't faltering."

"India is always... India has been a very unique country... I would say, in the history of the world, that it's been a very open society... different people from different societies come to India," he added.

S Jaiskankar highlighted that the contentious law demonstrates India's welcoming approach. He criticized those who had criticized the CAA. "There are people who publicly said on record that because of CAA, a million Muslims will lose their citizenship in this country. Why are they not being held to account?" he said, adding no person has lost citizenship because of the law, as reported by ANI.

The CAA makes it easier for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh to obtain Indian citizenship. The exclusion of Muslims from the law has been criticized by the Opposition. The ruling BJP has accused the government of misleading minorities for political gains.

Several Opposition parties, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have refused to implement the law in their respective states. After Biden's remark triggered controversy, it was stated by the White House that President Joe Biden has respect for all his allies and partners, as per ANI reports.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre asserted that the President's comments were part of a broader message emphasizing the strength derived from America's immigrant heritage. "Obviously, we have a strong relationship with India with Japan, and the President, if you just look at the last three years, has certainly focused on those diplomatic relationships," she added.