CHENNAI: A day after the union government notified the rules for implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday asserted that CAA would not be implemented in Tamil Nadu. The Act is against Constitution, minority communities, Sri Lankan Tamils living in rehabilitation camps, and the diverse and secular nature of the country, the CM said.
In a statement, Stalin said the BJP government has notified the Act in haste when the Lok Sabha polls are around the corner. “The CAA is against the basic tenets of the Constitution and the welfare of the people of India who live in unity amid differences in language, race, and religion,” he said.
A few hours after his statement, Stalin, in his tweet with the hashtag #NOCAAInTamilNadu, said, “The DMK has been consistent in its opposition to the CAA. We opposed CAA when it was in draft form. When it became law, the DMK protested against it.
"After coming to power, the party passed a resolution in the State Assembly demanding the withdrawal of the Act. When the union home minister said CAA would be implemented, I said CAA will not be allowed in TN. Now, after the notification of CAA, I say this again firmly — the DMK will not allow enforcement of CAA in Tamil Nadu.”
On February 12, through the customary address of Governor RN Ravi, which he refused to read, the DMK government asserted that it would not permit the implementation of the CAA in the state. “There is an apprehension that the BJP-led union government has effected this law just for ‘electoral politics", the CM said.
Centre introduced CAA to escape censures of SC: CM
“The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 Act is being introduced to divert the attention of the people as well to escape from the censures of the Supreme Court,” the CM said.
Stalin also said the legislation would lead to differences among the people of India and this law would not serve any purpose.
“The CAA is an unnecessary law and it should be withdrawn. The Tamil Nadu government will not give room for the implementation of the CAA in any way. Also, I convey to the people of Tamil Nadu that the state government will not give room for any legislation that would hamper the unity of the nation,” the chief minister added.