Microsoft CEO On India's New Citizenship Act

India born Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hopes that one day an immigrant would found a start-up or lead a multinational. Nadella’s statement, released by Microsoft India, came after a tweet by Ben Smith, editor of BuzzFeed News, suggesting Nadella's disappointment over the CAA.

"Every country will and should define its borders, protect national security and set immigration policy accordingly," wrote Satya Nadella without mentioning CAA.

"I’m shaped by my Indian heritage and my immigrant experience in the US," he wrote. Nadella came to the US in 1988 as a student and rose to become the CEO of Microsoft.

Satya further added, citing his success story, "My hope is for an India where an immigrant can aspire to found a prosperous start-up or lead an MNC benefitting Indian society and the economy at large."

Nadella’s clarification comes after Ben Smith's tweet where Smith says he asked Microsoft CEO about India’s new Citizenship Act.

"I think what is happening is sad… It’s just bad….," he quoted Nadella as saying. "I would love to see a Bangladeshi immigrant who comes to India and creates the next unicorn in India or becomes the next CEO of Infosys." As per Smith, Nadella made these comments at a meeting with editors in Manhattan.

The new law offers Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian migrants from the 3 neighboring countries, a path to Indian citizenship after 6 years of stay instead of the usual 12 for others. Indian cities have witnessed violent protests since the Indian parliament passed CAA on Dec 12.

The Indian Supreme Court, set to hear 59 petitions challenging the constitutional validity of CAA on January 22, has declined to stay its implementation.

Historian Ramchandra Guha, who opposes the CAA, welcomed Nadella’s statement. But former Infosys board member T. V. Mohandas Pai, a CAA supporter, felt Nadella is "very confused" in his statement.