Pakistan-born Christian man in Goa becomes third to get citizenship under CAA

PORVORIM (Goa): Brenden Valentine Crasto, a Roman Catholic originally from Pakistan and long-time resident of Anjuna, expressed gratitude after receiving his Indian citizenship certificate under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, saying he had been waiting for it for a long time and was thankful for the fast process.

He is the third Pakistani national in Goa to obtain Indian citizenship. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant handed over the certificate in Porvorim. Crasto said, “I was waiting for this citizenship for a long time and I am very thankful to the CAA. The process was very fast”.

A historic day in Goa as Pakistani national Brenden Crasto, who has been living in the state for the last 44 years, was officially granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The certificate was presented by Chief Minister @DrPramodPSawant

The CAA… pic.twitter.com/xgZNGowoLU

— BJP Goa (@BJP4Goa) August 26, 2025

On Sunday, CM Sawant said that his government was committed to ensuring housing for the underprivileged through its flagship ‘Mera Ghar’ scheme. Sawant said, “We had given houses to some people in our constituency. On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, we conducted the housewarming ceremony for three huts… Our government worked on the principles of Antyodaya, Sarvodaya, and Gramodaya.”

“We were working to ensure that those who had nothing received it through government schemes. Under the Goa government’s Mera Ghar scheme, the government was working to resolve the problems of every house and land in Goa”, he said. (ANI)