USCIRF remarks on CAB unwarranted: India

New Delhi: India on Tuesday called the remarks of USCIRF on the Citizenship Amendment Bill as "inaccurate and unwarranted" and regretted that the commission has been guided by own prejudices and biases on a matter on which it has little knowledge and no locus standi.

"The statement made by the USCIRF on the Citizenship Amendment Bill is neither accurate nor warranted," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The statement said the Bill provides expedited consideration for Indian citizenship to persecuted religious minorities already in India from certain contiguous countries, adding that such an initiative should be welcomed, not criticised by those who are genuinely committed to religious freedom.

"The position articulated by USCIRF is not surprising given its past record.

It is, however, regrettable that the body has chosen to be guided only by its prejudices and biases on a matter on which it clearly has little knowledge and no locus standi," MEA said.