New Delhi: After the Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), a 78-year-old Christian from Pakistan living in Goa since 2013 became the first person in the state to get the citizenship under the act, according to The Indian Express.
Joseph Pereira, originally a Goan descent who was born in 1946, migrated to Pakistan before Goa was liberated from the Portuguese regime.
Having returned to India on September 11, 2013, after spending years there doing jobs, Pereira became eligible for the citizenship under CAA.
Pereira, who now lives in Cansaulim village of South Goa, with his family, was originally from Paroda village in Salcete taluka.
Pereira harboured fears that he would die without having Indian citizenship, according to the outlet.
Pereira told media that he spent days ‘pondering’ over not having the citizenship, browsing through old files and wondering when he would get it.
He said he wondered so nevertheless he was born in Goa and his parents were from the state as is his wife who is also a Goan.
He expressed gratitude at having been granted it, adding that he can now travel anywhere without having to get permission from the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office) to travel, according to the report.
He expressed gratitude to PM Modi and the Union Minister Amit Shah for bringing in the CAA, adding that he had applied for it 11 years ago and every two years he had to apply for visa from FRRO.
He recounted the difficulties he had undergone in order to get a special visa which required him to submit ‘certain letters’ from his wife to show he was visiting her.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the Secretariat that he was honoured to present citizenship certificate to Joseph Pereira under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, adding that anybody eligible for the certificate could contact the government.