West Bengal has become the fourth state, after Kerala Rajasthan and Punjab, to have passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee introduced the resolution in the Assembly on January 27.
The CAA has turned out to be the most contentious law in recent times with so many states taking definitive action against it. Although many from the BJP leadership have time and again said that states do not have the power to defy a central legislation and yet this has not deterred the states from opposing this law tooth and nail and preventing its implementation in their respective states.
Addressing the assembly chief minister Mamata Banerjee said “In Bengal, we will not allow CAA, NRC (National Register of Citizens) and NPR (National Population Register). We will fight peacefully… Today, people are scared that they may have to leave this country. They are queuing up for all kinds of cards.”
She also said that this protest is not only of the minorities, “I thank my Hindu brothers for leading this protest from the forefront….As per the CAA, you have to become a foreigner to become a citizen… this is a terrible game, pushing people towards death. Don’t fall into their trap,” she added.
She termed the label of doubtful citizens and detention centres as “unacceptable”. She dubbed the BJP “Brand Ambassadors of Pakistan” saying, “They always talk of Pakistan and less of Hindustan”.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said such a resolution “represents the will of the people” as it comes through their elected representatives. Kerala said the amended version of the law is unconstitutional, and the assembly had a duty to pass a resolution against it.
The CAA, which makes, religion as a qualifying factor for grant of citizenship to immigrants has not gone down well with the masses, inviting widespread and unprecedented protests as well as with the non-BJP ruled states which are openly voicing their dissent against the law.
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