Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Denounces Citizenship Amendment Act
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin denounced the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as a law devoid of necessity, asserting its non-implementation in the southern state. In a press release, he emphasized that the CAA fosters divisions among Indian citizens and lacks any tangible benefits. Stalin, also the head of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), emphasized the government’s stance that the law should be repealed, highlighting its adverse impact on pluralism, secularism, minority communities, and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
Criticism of BJP’s Handling
He criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for hastily notifying CAA rules on the eve of the impending Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May. The Modi government’s sudden announcement of the CAA rules on Monday came more than four years after the Parliament passed the legislation in December 2019. The CAA aims to expedite Indian citizenship for minorities from neighboring Muslim-majority countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan), provided they arrived in India before or on December 31, 2014.
Opposition and Protests
Opposition parties, critics, and activists argue that the CAA discriminates against Muslims, a claim repeatedly refuted by the BJP-led central government. The enactment of the legislation had triggered widespread protests across the country.
Stalin’s Response
In response to the CAA’s implementation announcement, Stalin took to social media, accusing Prime Minister Modi of exploiting religious sentiments for political gain as elections loom. He stated that the Indian people would not forgive the BJP for introducing such a divisive act.
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