Delhi’s Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reiterated his stance against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), citing concerns about national safety if implemented. Kejriwal emphasized the potential law-and-order issues and criticized the allocation of taxpayer money to minorities from other countries. His remarks followed Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s response, accusing Kejriwal’s opposition to CAA as a diversion from alleged corruption charges against his party.
Shah countered Kejriwal’s assertions, dismissing claims that CAA would deprive Indian youth of jobs and increase crime. He pointed out that those benefiting from the law were already residing in India before 2014. Shah questioned Kejriwal’s silence on issues like Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingyas, suggesting electoral politics drove it.
In response, Kejriwal accused Shah of evading questions about CAA and deflecting by labeling him as corrupt. Kejriwal questioned the government’s ability to provide employment and housing to refugees from Pakistan when domestic employment challenges persist. He expressed concerns that CAA could lead to larger-scale migration than witnessed during the partition.
Earlier, Kejriwal had condemned the BJP’s implementation of CAA before the Lok Sabha elections as divisive vote-bank politics. He asserted that the public demanded the law’s repeal.
The CAA, enacted by the Centre on Monday, aims to grant citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. This move came four years after Parliament passed the legislation in December 2019.
In the ongoing debate surrounding the Citizenship Amendment Act, the exchange between Arvind Kejriwal and Amit Shah underscores the deep divisions and political tensions surrounding the legislation. As the discourse continues, it remains to be seen how these contrasting viewpoints will shape public opinion and policy decisions regarding CAA in the future.
Check here for the latest updates in Hindi!