Reacting to the opposition's criticism of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur questioned the motives behind their stance, particularly regarding the rights of religious minorities in neighboring countries.
Thakur expressed disbelief over the opposition's apparent disregard for the plight of persecuted refugee Hindu families, who are subjected to grave atrocities including rape, forced marriages, and religious conversions in broad daylight. He emphasized the necessity of the CAA in providing relief to these vulnerable communities, highlighting the central government's initiative to grant Indian nationality to persecuted migrants from six specific religious communities in neighboring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
Highlighting the positive impact of the CAA, Thakur underscored that individuals who have been waiting for citizenship for decades will now have the opportunity to gain official recognition.
However, opposition parties, including the Congress, TMC, and CPI(M), have raised concerns about the CAA's implications on India's secular fabric, alleging that it violates constitutional principles by linking citizenship to religious identity. They further criticized the timing of the CAA's implementation, accusing the BJP of attempting to polarize society ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, particularly in states like West Bengal and Assam.
In response, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to vehemently oppose the CAA if it undermines existing citizenship rights. She questioned the timing of its implementation, just days before the announcement of Lok Sabha polls.
Similarly, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemned the BJP's implementation of the CAA, labeling it as "dirty politics" aimed at cultivating a vote bank among poor people from neighboring countries. Kejriwal criticized the BJP for diverting attention from pressing issues and accused them of using the CAA for political gain.
The CAA, passed in December 2019, has faced widespread protests across the country, with critics denouncing it as discriminatory. Despite these criticisms, the BJP has defended the legislation, asserting its commitment to protecting persecuted religious minorities.
