NEW DELHI: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has joined the debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying whatever is happening in India on this new legislation is just bad.
Talking to editors in Manhattan on Monday, Nadella who hails from Hyderabad and became the Microsoft CEO in 2014, said he would like immigrants to come and set up startups in India.
“I think what is happening is sad…It’s just bad…I would love to see a Bangladeshi immigrant who comes to India and creates the next unicorn in India or become the next CEO of Infosys,” tweeted Ben Smith, editor-in-chief of buzzfeednews.com, who asked Microsoft CEO about the CAA at the meeting.
Later, Microsoft India Twitter handle issued a statement on behalf of Nadella clarifying what his statement meant.
Twitter mocks Nadella
By then, netizens took to social media platforms to ask whether people will boycott Microsoft and soon #BoycottWindow and #SatyaNadella started to trend on Twitter.
Excluding Muslims, the CAA seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh on or before December 31, 2014.
As per the Act, such communities will not be treated as illegal immigrants and will be given Indian citizenship.
The legislation, which has come into force from January 10, has led to intense protests across the country since December when the legislation was passed by Parliament, with students coming out on the streets in thousands in almost all the states.
Civil society members, opposition parties and commoners have also joined the protests.
Over two dozens people have been killed in Uttar Pradesh, more than 800 arrested and 5000 detained while at least five people have died in police firing in Assam and two in Karnataka due to the violence.