NYT gets a fact-check from Indian government advisor over Afghan evacuation claim

Amidst the ongoing chaos in Afghanistan, the New York Times on Wednesday published an article that claimed that India was prioritising only Hindus and Sikhs while issuing emergency visas to Afghans.

The report comes in the backdrop of the Indian government launching an e-emergency visa service on Tuesday for Afghan nationals, who wished to come to India in the wake of the collapse of the democratic-elected government in the country and a takeover by the Taliban.

The New York Times article was fact-checked by the Information & Broadcasting Ministry Advisor Kanchan Gupta who said, "Once again @nytimes found grossly lying through its teeth. #India has promptly introduced an emergency e-visa for #Afghanistan nationals. No religious criteria were mentioned. Apart from Hindus and Sikhs, India has said it stands by and will offer all assistance to Afghan friends."

He further advised that the newspaper that instead of peddling gross distortions and fake news about India, it should focus on the United States abandoning Afghanistan and leaving Afghans to their fate

As far as the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act is concerned, the Indian law says that if any individual is being persecuted on the ground of religion in its neighbouring Islamic countries, that person can be given citizenship in India. Those countries include Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. 

Under Citizenship Act 1955, any foreigners can apply for Indian citizenship provide they fulfil the eligibility criteria. 

The External Affairs Ministry had said that it had already received requests from Afghan Sikhs and Hindu community leaders and that it was in touch with them. The ministry had also stated that the main challenge for travel to and from Afghanistan is the operational status of Kabul airport. 

India on Tuesday evacuated a total of 129 of its people, including diplomatic staff, their family members, ITBP personnel -- posted there to guard the embassy -- and journalists, who went to cover the war. 

The New York Times, meanwhile, received a lot of flak on Twitter for its views. Here are some of them.

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• New York Times
• Afghan Sikhs
• Hindus in Afghanistan
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• Afghanistan war
• Afghan war
• New Delhi
• Twitter
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• fact-check