Sensing the impact of the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), opposition parties have started opposing it. West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have made it clear that they will not allow this law to be implemented in their states. Mamata Banerjee has described the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act just before the beginning of the month of Ramzan as playing with the sentiments of the Muslim community. Arvind Kejriwal has said that we are not able to provide employment to our own people. In such a situation, giving citizenship in India to unemployed people coming from these countries will increase the problems of the country. He has demanded withdrawal of this law. However, constitutional experts say that states have no right to stop this law from being implemented in their states.
The opposition of political parties to the Citizenship Amendment Act is purely political. BJP is trying to capitalize on this law in a big way. Its leaders and workers are saying in their speeches at various places that the Narendra Modi government has fulfilled its biggest promise made in the elections. This may lead to polarization among voters on communal lines. BJP will benefit from this, while all opposition parties including Congress may suffer loss.
Mamata Banerjee has opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act the most. The biggest reason for this is that the issue of illegal immigrants coming from Bangladesh is very hot in West Bengal. It is alleged that when a section of Hindu people of Matua community opposes, illegal immigrants of Muslim community coming from Bangladesh are provided all kinds of facilities including accommodation and food.
But due to the new law, people of Matua community may get the benefit of citizenship, while illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh may have to leave the country. In case this happens, Matua community can vote for BJP, which will benefit BJP, whereas opposition parties like Mamata Banerjee or Congress can suffer loss due to cancellation of ration cards, Aadhar cards of illegal Muslim immigrants. This is the reason why Mamata Banerjee has started opposing it.
BJP’s plan ready in Kerala also
Kerala has been a barren land for BJP till now. The party has not yet been able to open an account there. 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala have been held by the Left parties or Congress. But BJP is trying to connect the Hindu voters here with itself. She is also trying to bring influential leaders of the Christian community with her. Matters like Love Jihad are also helping him in this.
The Citizenship Amendment Act may also have an impact in Kerala, because illegal Bangladeshi and Myanmar immigrants have started living there too. Due to this, people of some communities are angry at the local level. BJP estimates that it may benefit from this.
What did the constitutional expert say?
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Ashwini Kumar Dubey told Amar Ujala that the issue of citizenship is included in Schedule Seven. The Center has complete authority over the subjects included in this schedule and no state can oppose any decision taken on these issues. He cannot prove it wrong with the help of any section of the law. Therefore, the opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act is politically motivated.
Congress said
At the same time, Congress has described the Citizenship Amendment Act as a conspiracy to create communal polarization and divert attention from the issue. Congress leader Prabal Pratap Shahi told Amar Ujala that BJP is talking about winning 400 seats in this election. She wants to end the reservation given to Scheduled Castes and Tribes by bringing two-thirds majority. He said that this issue has been brought up only to divert the public’s attention from the real issue.
