Don't increase stateless people: Luxembourg FM

New Delhi, January 28

Amidst concerns over India’s new citizenship Act and the NRC, Luxembourg, a European Union member, on Tuesday said it didn’t want to “interfere in the domestic policy” of the country but had asked New Delhi to “do everything” to not increase stateless people. This was conveyed by visiting Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn during talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

“What I said to the minister (Jaishankar) this morning is ‘do everything you can do to not increase stateless people’. That is something that we have to fight against. Rest concerns India,” Asselborn said during an interactive session at India International Centre.

With six resolutions being moved in the European Parliament against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), Asselborn said Jaishankar could explain his point of view when he visited Europe in February and March. To a question on the resolutions, Asselborn defended the move, saying the EP also criticised its members often and took up “aggressive” positions against them.

“The problem is if you have an addition of migration and religion, it is very difficult to find a solution,” the minister said in reference to the Indian context. External Affairs Ministry in a statement said Asselborn met Jaishankar during which they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed ways to further strengthen ties.

Close to 600 lawmakers in the 751-member EP moved six resolutions against the CAA, saying its enactment marked a dangerous shift in India’s citizenship regime. PTI