Satya Nadella on CAA: Hoping immigrants can benefit Indian society, economy

As protests against the recently enacted Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) continue to create a furore, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has commented on the situation in the country and said that every country should protect national security and set immigration policy accordingly.

Through a statement from Microsoft India's official Twitter handle, Nadella said that being shaped by Indian heritage and in view of his immigrant experience in the United States, he hopes to see an India where immigrants can strive for ambitious endeavours benefiting Indian society and the economy at large.

"Every country will and should define its borders, protect national security and set immigration policy accordingly. And in democracies, that is something the people and their governments will debate and define within those bounds. I’m shaped by my Indian heritage, growing up in a multicultural India and my immigrant experience in the US. My hope is for an India where an immigrant can aspire to found a prosperous start-up or lead a multinational corporation benefiting Indian society and the economy at large,” said the statement issued by Nadella," read the statement.

Statement from Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft pic.twitter.com/lzsqAUHu3I

— Microsoft India (@MicrosoftIndia) January 13, 2020

Nadella's comment was backed by many, including historian Ramachandra Guha, who is in the news for attacking the Centre against the Citizenship law.

Guha wished that big names in the industry take a stand like him. "I am glad Satya Nadella has said what he has. I wish that one of our own IT czars had the courage and wisdom to say this first. Or to say it even now," he tweeted.

The CAA was passed by the Parliament on 11 December. Massive protests have erupted in India following the introduction of the law.

The controversial law promises citizenship to "illegal immigrants" belonging to minority communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who fled religious persecution in the three countries. 

While critics say that the law is against the secular nature of the Indian Constitution and clubbed with the NRC may be misused to strip away some Muslims' citizenship in the country. 

The BJP, however, has argued that the law has nothing to do with India's Muslims and only helps those who fled religious persecution in the neighbouring countries.