Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday handed over the Indian citizenship certificate to a Pakistani Christian under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, making him the second such person from the coastal state.
Sawant told reporters that Pereira is the second Goan to get this certificate but many people across India have taken advantage of the amendment in CAA to get Indian nationality.
“Presented the Citizenship Certificate to Shane Sebastian Pareira and his family under the Citizenship Amendment Act. Shane Sebastian Pareira, originally a Pakistani citizen, migrated to India shortly after his birth,’ said Sawant
Sawant informed that he completed his school education in Goa and has since been a long-standing resident of the state. Shri Pareira has rightfully benefited from the provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Shane Sebastian Pareira on formally becoming an Indian citizen. I also take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their visionary leadership in enacting and implementing this significant legislation ensuring justice,” he added
He said there are many Goans who can be given citizenship in a similar way under the CAA.
As per the certificate, Pereira has been registered as a Citizen of India under the Provisions of Section 6 B and fulfilling the conditions under section 5 (1)(c) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 with effect from the date of entering India.
Sawant said that the Goa Home Department has begun surveying such people. “If anyone is eligible for the certificate, they can contact the government,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that though Pereira faced hurdles in getting Indian citizenship till the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amended the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The CAA was enacted in December 2019 to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians.
