Indian citizenship given to 78-year-old Joseph Francis Pereira
He is the first individual in Goa to get citizenship
Pereira is a Pakistani Christian by birth
In a historic event for Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday handed over an Indian citizenship certificate to 78-year-old Joseph Francis Pereira, making him the first individual in the coastal state to obtain citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Pereira, a Pakistani Christian by birth, was granted Indian nationality after a long wait, facilitated by the amended Citizenship Act.
Also Read: Has anyone been born in this country who can repeal the CAA?: Modi
Born in 1946 in Paroda, South Goa, Pereira moved to Pakistan for studies before the liberation of Goa. He subsequently took up employment in Karachi and acquired Pakistani citizenship. However, after his retirement in 2013, he returned to India and has since lived in Cansaulim, South Goa, with his family.
I am honored to present the Citizenship Certificate to Mr. Joseph Pereira under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. This provision grants citizenship to individuals from Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities who migrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and… pic.twitter.com/wFkvq9Bxoo
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) August 28, 2024
Despite being married to a Goan woman, Maria, Pereira faced significant challenges in obtaining Indian citizenship due to the complexities of existing laws. The CAA, enacted in December 2019, provided a pathway for persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to acquire Indian citizenship if they entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
Chief Minister Sawant, accompanied by state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, personally presented the citizenship certificate to Pereira, marking a significant milestone in his life. The event underscores the impact of the CAA in resolving long-standing citizenship issues for individuals like Pereira, who sought to return to their roots in India.
Indian citizenship given to 78-year-old Joseph Francis Pereira
He is the first individual in Goa to get citizenship
Pereira is a Pakistani Christian by birth
In a historic event for Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday handed over an Indian citizenship certificate to 78-year-old Joseph Francis Pereira, making him the first individual in the coastal state to obtain citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Pereira, a Pakistani Christian by birth, was granted Indian nationality after a long wait, facilitated by the amended Citizenship Act.
Also Read: Has anyone been born in this country who can repeal the CAA?: Modi
Born in 1946 in Paroda, South Goa, Pereira moved to Pakistan for studies before the liberation of Goa. He subsequently took up employment in Karachi and acquired Pakistani citizenship. However, after his retirement in 2013, he returned to India and has since lived in Cansaulim, South Goa, with his family.
I am honored to present the Citizenship Certificate to Mr. Joseph Pereira under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. This provision grants citizenship to individuals from Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities who migrated from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and… pic.twitter.com/wFkvq9Bxoo
— Dr. Pramod Sawant (@DrPramodPSawant) August 28, 2024
Despite being married to a Goan woman, Maria, Pereira faced significant challenges in obtaining Indian citizenship due to the complexities of existing laws. The CAA, enacted in December 2019, provided a pathway for persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to acquire Indian citizenship if they entered India on or before December 31, 2014.
Chief Minister Sawant, accompanied by state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, personally presented the citizenship certificate to Pereira, marking a significant milestone in his life. The event underscores the impact of the CAA in resolving long-standing citizenship issues for individuals like Pereira, who sought to return to their roots in India.
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