CMs escalate demand for CAA repeal even as Shah refuses to budge

The opposition parties on Friday (January 3) escalated their demand for the repeal of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan writing to 11 non-BJP chief ministers even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted his government won’t budge an inch on its decision to implement the contentious law.

Kerala on December 31 became the first state to pass a resolution demanding the scrapping of the CAA, with the joint support of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the opposition Congress-headed UDF. The state’s chief minister has now written to 11 chief ministers to take similar steps against the new law and pitched for unity to protect democracy and secularism.

This comes amid widespread protests across the country against the CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

“The need of the hour is unity among all Indians who wish to protect and preserve our cherished values of democracy and secularism. People from various cross-sections of society irrespective of any difference they might have, need to stand united in preserving the basic tenets of our polity which form the cornerstone of Indian democracy,” Vijayan said in his letter to the 11 chief ministers, including Bihar’s Nitish Kumar, chief of BJP-ally JD(U).

Vijayan, the lone Left chief minister in the country, claimed apprehensions have arisen among large sections of society consequent to the CAA. He drew attention of the 11 states to the resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly expressing its concern regarding the impact the CAA on the “nation’s secular credentials” and urging the Centre to repeal it.

“States, which have the opinion that the CAA should be repealed, can also consider similar steps so that it will be an ‘eye-opener’ to the proponents of the CAA and the NRC,” Vijayan said. The Marxist veteran expressed hope that the unity in diversity of the country, which has stood the test of times, will ultimately emerge stronger.

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“Kerala has decided to address the apprehensions about NRC that preparations of NPR will lead to NRC by staying all activities relating to NPR in the state,” he said in the letter.

Vijayan’s appeal to his counterparts comes a day after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan said the resolution passed by the state assembly against CAA has absolutely no Constitutional or legal validity. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had criticised the Left government for passing the resolution and said Vijayan should seek “better legal advice”.

Vijayan sent identical letter to chief ministers, Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi), Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), YS Jaganmohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh), Kamal Nath (Madhya Pradesh), Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan) Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and V Narayanasamy (Puducherry).

Govt won’t budge an inch: Amit Shah

Amit Shah on Friday declared the Centre will not budge an inch on implementation of the CAA even as the political acrimony over the new law grew intense with several non-BJP chief ministers escalated their demand for scrapping the law.

Launching an “awareness programme” in Rajasthan in support of the CAA, Shah accused the Congress of misleading Muslims and challenged party leader Rahul Gandhi to a discussion “if he has read the law.” Referring to the opposition parties’ demand for scrapping the law, he said, “Let all these parties come together. The BJP is not going back an inch on the CAA.”

Punjab CM writes open letter to Prasad

Amarinder Singh wrote an open letter to Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday, in which, he expressed concern on his remarks on the resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly. “The passing of a resolution by the Legislative Assembly represents the will and wisdom of persons spoken through, legally and validly, their elected representatives,” the letter said.

Stating that the fabric of the Indian Constitution requires secular conduct, Singh said, “If the CAA seeks to protect religious persecution, then such protection should be available to persons of all religious minorities, from all countries where people may face religious persecution.”

He said the legislation could also be “misused for infiltration into our country, particularly in the border states, converting the misguided legislation into a national security threat.”

“In a federal structure such as ours, it is imperative that the Centre heed the voice which arises from the people of our States. Laws are not to be forcibly imposed on citizens. Like all powers, even parliamentary power is coupled with the duty to exercise it responsibly,” he added.

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Kejriwal urges CAA rollback

Responding to a question during a town hall meeting in Delhi on Friday, Arvind Kejriwal said he appeals to the Centre with “folded hands” to roll back the “controversial legislation”. “We don’t need this law; it is completely unnecessary. Where will we accommodate two crore Hindus from Pakistan,” the chief minister said.

Kejriwal said the Centre should first take care of its citizens and then, people from other countries. “I do not understand this legislation. The need of the hour is to provide employment to our children rather than bringing this legislation which is not needed in India,” Kejriwal said.

Modi always speaks about Pakistan: Mamata

Speaking at an anti-CAA rally in Siliguri, Mamata Banerjee on Friday said it was a shame that people were being asked to prove their nationality, even after 70 years of Independence. Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP spoke of Pakistan every now and then to divert attention from the prevailing economic crisis and unemployment in India.

“India is a big country with a rich culture and heritage. Why does the prime minister regularly compare our nation with Pakistan? Are you the prime minister of India or the ambassador of Pakistan? Why do you have to refer to Pakistan in every issue? You (Modi) should rather speak of Hindustan. We don’t want to be Pakistan. We love Hindustan,” she said.

Banerjee’s remark comes a day after Modi dared the Congress and its allies to raise their voice against Pakistan’s atrocities on its minorities for the past 70 years.

(With inputs from agencies)