GUWAHATI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre will not scrap the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) despite rising dissent against the Act.
The declaration comes amidst escalating protests in the Northeast, particularly in Assam, where demonstrators gathered in large numbers to oppose the contentious legislation that was rolled out on March 11.
In an interview with a national news agency, Union Minister Shah categorically stated that the BJP-led government is unwavering in its commitment to the CAA, highlighting the law’s importance in safeguarding the rights of persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries.
Dismissing claims of unconstitutionality, Shah argued that the CAA aligns with Article 14 of the Constitution, asserting that it provides a reasonable classification for those fleeing religious persecution in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
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“They always talk about Article 14. They forget that there are two clauses in that Article. This law does not violate Article 14. There is a clear, reasonable classification here,” he told the agency.
Responding to criticism regarding the timing of the CAA notification before the Lok Sabha elections, Shah stressed that the law is not influenced by political considerations but is a long-standing commitment of the BJP government.
He also accused the opposition of engaging in appeasement politics and attempting to consolidate their vote bank.
“Now, the Opposition wants to consolidate their vote bank by doing appeasement politics. I want to request them that they have been exposed. CAA is the law for the entire country and I have reiterated nearly 41 times in four years that it will become a reality,” the agency quoted the Union Home Minister.
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Meanwhile, opposition to the CAA has intensified in Northeast, particularly in Assam.
The opposition to the contentious Act heightened to a legal battle on March 12 after Assam’s Leader of the Opposition and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) knocked on the Supreme Court’s door seeking a stay on it.
On that very evening, in what can be termed as the largest gathering of protesters in Assam since the Centre implemented the Act on March 11, about 400 students from different institutions took out a rally at Guwahati’s Latasil ground.
