Free non-Muslims from detention camps: Centre to Assam Govt.

Centre has advised the Assamgovernment to release all non-Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan from thedetention centres. Union Minister of State for Nityanand Rai on Tuesday told LokSabha that Assam government has been advised to release all non-Muslims fromboth Bangladesh and Pakistan, "who have been forced to seek shelter in thestate before December 31, 2014, with expired or without valid documents", from detentioncentres.

Rai further said that the personscovered under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) can submit applications forgranting citizenship once Centre notifies appropriate rules. The minister alsosaid that the name of 'detention centre' has been changed to 'holding centre'.

The minister was replying to a question by Assam Congress MP Abdul Khaleque on whether the government has taken any initiative to release the declared foreigners belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Christian and Jain communities who are residing in detention camps.