Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria claim on Indian citizenship

Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria has clarified that he has no plans to seek Indian citizenship at present, rejecting rumours that his positive remarks on India's internal affairs were driven by such motives.

The former leg break bowler, who is a Hindu, underscored that, despite facing "deep discrimination" from Pakistani authorities and the cricket board, Pakistan was his "janmabhoomi".

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"Lately, I have seen many people questioning me, asking why I do not speak about Pakistan, why I comment on Bharat's internal matters, and some even alleging that I do all this for Bharatiya citizenship. I feel it is important to set the record straight," Kaneria said in a long post on X.

ON INDIAN CITIZENSHIP, DISCRIMINATION

Kaneria, who represented Pakistan from 2000 to 2010, acknowledged the love he received from Pakistani fans, but firmly stressed that India, the land of his ancestors, was his "matrubhumi" (homeland).

"Pakistan may be my janmabhoomi, but Bharat, the land of my ancestors, is my matrubhumi. For me, Bharat is like a temple. At present, I have no plans to seek Bharatiya citizenship. If in the future someone like me chooses to do so, the CAA is already in place for people like us," he further said.

This suggests that the former Pakistani cricketer is keeping his options open in seeking Indian citizenship in the future.

Under the CAA or Citizenship (Amendment) Act, persecuted minorities who have fled Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and have entered the country can seek Indian citizenship. Recently, the government extended the cut-off date for entry to December 31, 2024.

Adnan Sami, the Pakistan-born singer and composer, was granted Indian citizenship in 2016. He was even awarded the Padma Shri earlier this year.

PRAISE FOR RSS

Recently, Kaneria praised the RSS as it celebrated its 100th anniversary, saying the world needed more such dedicated organisations. "I have seen their work across the globe: helping communities, supporting the needy, empowering youth," Kaneria had tweeted.

The 44-year-old, who has 261 wickets in Tests, however, dismissed claims that his outspoken views were motivated by a desire for citizenship.

"Those who claim that my words or actions are driven by the desire for citizenship are completely wrong. I will continue to stand for dharma and to expose the anti-nationals and pseudo-secularists who are damaging our ethos and attempting to divide our society," he said before ending his post with a "Jai Shree Ram" remark.

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