CAA Row: AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi Moves Supreme Court, Seeks Stay On Implementation Of Law

Owaisi said that no applications seeking citizenship status should be entertained or processed by the government under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955, during the proceedings.

File Photo Of AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi

Source : PTI Images

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday approached the Supreme Court to request a halt in the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, along with the Rules, 2024.

The development comes after the Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 on March 11, notifying the rules four years after its passage by Parliament. The law aims to expedite citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

Owaisi, in his petition, said that no applications seeking citizenship status should be entertained or processed by the government under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955, during the proceedings.

He argued that the CAA should be considered alongside the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Owaisi clarified that he does not oppose granting citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs from the aforementioned countries but accused the government of targeting the Muslim population in India through the NPR and NRC exercises.

In his petition, Owaisi requested the court to:

• Issue directions to stay the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, and the Amendment Rules, 2024, until the final disposal of the petition.
• Ensure that during the proceedings, no actions shall be taken based on the proviso to Section 2(1)(b) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• Direct that no applications for citizenship status be processed under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955, during the proceedings.
• Direct that no applications for citizenship status be entertained under the proviso to Clause (d) of the Third Schedule of the Citizenship Act, 1955, during the proceedings.

He stated that he is not opposed to giving citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Voicing objections, Owaisi claimed that "the law threatens to segregate the country's minority communities, potentially leading to challenges for Muslims in proving their citizenship," as per the input provided by ABP News reporter Nipun. 

Previously, Owaisi told a gathering in Hyderabad, "Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 12 lakh Hindus listed in the NRC conducted in the state will be given Indian citizenship under CAA, but what about the 1.5 lakh Muslims? People are saying nothing is going to happen immediately. I want to tell them, that things take time to unfold." 

"Home Minister Amit Shah named me when he said NPR and NRC will also be implemented. The government must give citizenship to people who come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, but not based on religion," he added. Owaisi predicted that the people of Hyderabad would vote against the CAA and defeat the BJP in the upcoming elections.

#WATCH | Hyderabad: On CAA, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi says, "... Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the 12 lakh Hindus listed in the NRC conducted in the state will be given Indian citizenship under CAA, but what about the 1.5 lakh Muslims? People are saying nothing is going to… pic.twitter.com/rDyAUxD38y

— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2024