Panaji: A 78-year-old Christian from Pakistan, who has been living in Goa since 2013, has become the first person in the state to be granted citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019.

Joseph Pereira thanked PM Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for introducing CAA and processing his application.

Born in 1946, Pereira, who is of Goan descent, moved to Pakistan before Goa's liberation from Portuguese rule and got a job there. He returned to India on September 11, 2013, making him eligible for Indian citizenship.

Originally hailing from Paroda village in Salcete taluka, Pereira now lives with his family in Cansaulim village, South Goa.

According to Pereira, he was afraid that he would die before getting Indian citizenship.

Pereira said he had applied for citizenship 11 years ago, but it was not processed earlier.

“I had been praying… I spent days pondering on this subject. I would look at all the files and wonder when I would get citizenship. I was born in Goa, my parents are from Goa, and my wife is a Goan. I don’t know why it (attaining the citizenship) took so long. But I am grateful that I have got it now. I am now free to go anywhere. If I have to go to New Delhi, I don’t have to take permission from the FRRO (Foreigners Regional Registration Office). I can just buy a ticket and travel,” Pereira was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

“I am thankful to the PM and the Union Home Minister for bringing in the CAA. I am grateful to all the government officials for processing my application. I had applied a long time ago… almost 11 years ago. Every two years, I had to apply for a visa from the FRRO and run from pillar to post. I had to take a special visa… and submit certain letters from my wife to show that I am visiting her,” Pereira added.

CM Pramod Sawant said at the Secretariat that he felt honoured to handover the citizenship certificate to Pereira. “I am honoured to present the citizenship certificate to Joseph Pereira under the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024,” he said, according to Indian Express.

“If anyone is eligible for the certificate, they can contact the government,” he added.