Bengaluru: Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Peter Machado has clarified that the Christian community will not support the controversial ‘Citizenship Amendment Act’.

While stressing that the community has supported all the pro-people projects of the government like the Swach Bharat Abhiyan and others, the Catholics are not inclined to stand by the government this time in connection to the CAA.

The Archbishop, in a statement to the media said that various sects of Christianity have come together and held discussion in this regard.

“We have come to the conclusion that we cannot support the CAA. We will meet the Governor today and communicate to him about our stand. The same will be informed to the Prime Minister by the Governor,” said the Archbishop adding that the Act intends to give Indian citizenship to people from certain religions, who have faced religious persecution in their country.

“However, since one particular religion has been left out, we have decided not to support the Act,” he said.

He opined that the Act has unleashed fear, unrest, and violence in several parts of the country and the rage is only spreading.

“We Christians are peace-lovers and hence we will oppose the CAA,” he said vouching for citizenship based on an individual’s eligibility rather than religion and ethnicity.

He said that the government must hold talks with those opposing the CAA before the situation goes out of control.