Joseph Francis A. Pereira, a Christian from Pakistan, has become the first person in Goa to receive Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presented Pereira with his citizenship certificate during a ceremony in Panaji, the state capital.
Pereira, who now resides in Cansaulim, South Goa, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for introducing the CAA.
“Within one month of applying for citizenship, the approval came through. I am very grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for implementing the CAA,” Pereira said.
Pereira, 78, retired in 2013 after working for 37 years in Bahrain. He settled in Goa with his wife, Martha Pereira, who was already an Indian citizen.
Reflecting on their long journey to secure citizenship, Martha said: “We had been applying for citizenship since we got married, but to no avail.”
However, after the CAA was introduced, Joseph reapplied for citizenship in June. “Without the CAA, there would have been many hurdles,” Martha said.
Chief Minister Sawant hailed the event as a significant milestone for Goa. “I thank the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. People in Pakistan and elsewhere have been seeking citizenship for almost 60 years,” he said.
“Today, after the law has been passed, we are able to grant citizenship. It is a matter of pride for us.”
The Citizenship Amendment Act allows Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Parsis, and Buddhists from neighboring countries—Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan—who entered India before December 31, 2014, to apply for citizenship after verification.
(Inputs from ANI)