By BBC Verify team
The Indian government has decided to enact a controversial law offering citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from three neighbouring countries.
Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who have entered India illegally before 31 December 2014 can apply for citizenship if they can prove they originate from Muslim-majority Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan.
The law, known as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has been criticised as discriminatory because the same right has not been granted to Muslims who have come to India from other countries.
The government argues that minorities in those Muslim-majority countries are dwindling, and that they face persecution on the grounds of their faith.
“I believe it is our moral and constitutional responsibility to give shelter to those who were part of Akhand Bharat and suffered religious persecution,” says Home Minister Amit Shah.
Akhand Bharat is a historical term referring to the idea of a greater India, and understood to include India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Tibet.
So what is the situation facing non-Muslims in neighbouring states?
This story was originally published in bbc.com. Read the full story here.
