Team Herald
PANJIM: A 70-year-old man from Pakistan has become the first person in the State to get Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The citizenship documents were handed over to Joseph Pereira by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at a simple function at Mantralaya, Porvorim on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said, “It is a matter of pride for Goa as we are according him citizenship. Pereira had gone to Pakistan for further studies. He completed his education. But he had to take citizenship of Pakistan. Later he shifted to Goa and got married to a woman from Goa. He has been staying in Goa but did not have citizenship of the country.”
He said that the Government of India has notified the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) providing provision for grant of Indian citizenship to the person belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who came to India till December 31, 2014.
“Joseph Pereira is a Pakistani, currently residing at Cansaulim, South Goa. He married to an Indian citizen Marta Pereira in 1978. Joseph has roots in India. He and his parents were born in Goa. However, he moved to Pakistan prior to Liberation for higher studies and works and became a Pakistani citizen,” the Chief Minister said.
