‘Designed To Polarise’: INDIA Bloc Parties React To CAA Implementation

Opposition parties on Monday criticised the timing of the notification of the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, hours after the Modi government issued a notification for the same.

Some parties alleged that it is a move to polarise voters during the Lok Sabha polls, which are a few weeks away. Others said it was the BJP’s strategy to distract attention from the “electoral bonds scam”.

The CAA was designed to grant Indian nationality to Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians who fled from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan before 31 December 2014. It was enacted in 2019.

Questioning the timing of the CAA notification, the Congress claimed that it is evidently designed to polarise voters, especially in West Bengal and Assam. Party MP and general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a social media post, criticised the Modi government for taking over four years and nine extensions to notify the rules for the CAA. He termed it another demonstration of PM Modi’s false claims regarding a time-bound and business-like approach.

Meanwhile, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee called the announcement an election publicity gimmick by the BJP. She expressed her intent to fight the move. She also questioned the Centre’s motive for releasing the notification just before Ramzan and urged people to remain calm.

At the press conference in Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress chief said, “Let me see the rules first. The notification has just been issued. If people are deprived of their rights under the rules, then we will fight against it. This is BJP’s publicity for elections, it is nothing else.”

She added, “You should have notified rules six months ago. If there are any good things, we always support and appreciate, but if anything is done that is not good for the country, TMC will always raise its voice and oppose it. I know why today’s date was chosen before Ramzan. I appeal to the people to be calm and avoid any rumors.”

In the meantime, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav characterised the CAA notification as a distraction game by the BJP and called on the government to explain why many Indians renounced their citizenship during its 10-year rule.

Yadav wrote on X, “The public has now understood the BJP’s game of politics of distraction. The BJP government should explain why lakhs of citizens gave up their citizenship of the country during their 10-year rule. No matter what happens tomorrow, you will have to give an account of electoral bonds and also the (PM) care fund.”

Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister of Kerala, also criticised the timing of the announcement, accusing the Central government of attempting to disturb the nations, undermine Constitutional principles and incite communal sentiments.

Vijayan said, “The LDF Government has repeated several times that the Citizenship Amendment Act, which treats Muslim minorities as second class citizens, will not be implemented in Kerala. We reiterate that position. Kerala will stand united in opposing this communal and divisive law.”

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi chief minister, condemned the decision to notify the CAA, stating that it goes against the country’s interests. He raised questions on the timing of the move, suggesting that it was an attempt to divert attention away from pressing issues like inflation and unemployment.

Kejriwal wrote on X, “The entire country opposes CAA. First give jobs to our children, first give houses to our people. Then bring people from other countries to our country… BJP is probably the only party in the world which is doing this dirty politics to make the poor of neighbouring countries its vote bank. This is against the country.”