Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has firmly declared that the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the state is “completely unwarranted” and will not be pursued under his administration. In a press release issued a day after the Centre notified CAA rules, Stalin criticized the law for fostering divisions among Indian citizens.
Stalin emphasized that the CAA serves no purpose and only exacerbates rifts within the country’s diverse populace. He asserted the Tamil Nadu government’s stance against the law, labeling it as against pluralism, secularism, and the interests of minority communities and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.
Moreover, Stalin questioned the timing of the BJP-led central government’s notification of the CAA rules, coinciding with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May. He accused the ruling party of hastily pushing through the implementation to capitalize on religious sentiments for political gains.
The controversial CAA, passed by Parliament in December 2019, aims to expedite Indian citizenship for minorities from neighboring Muslim-majority nations, provided they arrived in India before or on December 31, 2014. Despite assurances from the BJP that the law does not discriminate against Muslims, opposition parties, critics, and activists have vehemently opposed it, citing concerns of religious discrimination and communal tensions.
Stalin’s strong condemnation of the CAA aligns with his previous statements denouncing the law as divisive and politically motivated. As the debate surrounding the CAA continues to stir nationwide, Tamil Nadu under Stalin’s leadership stands firm in its rejection of the contentious legislation.
