'Divisive, Communal, Attempt To Polarise': Here's What Oppn Parties Said As Centre Notifies CAA Rules

Opposition leaders questioned the government about the timing of the move, which coincides with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to people to ‘be calm and avoid rumours.’

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Several opposition leaders on Monday came down heavily on the Narendra Modi-led government over the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).

Opposition leaders including Kerala CM Vijayan Pinarayi, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Congress' Jairam Ramesh, and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the government about the timing of the move, which coincides with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh took to X and posted, "It has taken four years and three months for the Modi Government to notify the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act that was passed by the Parliament in December 2019. The Prime Minister claims that his Government works in a business-like and time-bound manner. The time taken to notify the rules for the CAA is yet another demonstration of the Prime Minister’s blatant lies."

दिसंबर 2019 में संसद द्वारा पारित नागरिकता संशोधन अधिनियम के नियमों को अधिसूचित करने में मोदी सरकार को चार साल और तीन महीने लग गए। प्रधानमंत्री दावा करते हैं कि उनकी सरकार बिल्कुल प्रोफेशनल ढंग से और समयबद्ध तरीक़े से काम करती है। सीएए के नियमों को अधिसूचित करने में लिया गया इतना…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 11, 2024

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to people to ‘be calm and avoid rumours.’

“You should have notified rules six months ago. If there are any good things, we always support and appreciate but if anything is done that is not good for the country, TMC will always raise its voice and oppose it. I know why today's date was chosen before Ramazan,” she said.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says "You should have notified rules six months ago. If there are any good things, we always support and appreciate but if anything is done that is not good for the country, TMC will always raise its voice and oppose it. I know why today's date was… pic.twitter.com/KttcrdkT3U

— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2024

Kerala CM Vijayan described CAA as a communally divisive law and asserted that it will not be implemented in the state. 

"The Union government notifying CAA rules ahead of the election is an attempt to disturb the nation. This is to inject communal divisions among the public, and to destroy the basic ideology of our constitution. Kerala was the first to pass a resolution against the CAA bill. We had announced that the National Population Register (NPR) would also not be implemented in the state. Pointing out the unconstitutional nature of the bill, the state had filed a suit in the Supreme Court against the Union government," CM Vijayan said.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said, "Why was there such a delay? If it had to be delayed then why couldn't it be done after the elections? Their (BJP) only aim is to make every issue about Hindus and Muslims..."

#WATCH | Bhopal: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says, "Why was there such a delay? If it had to be delayed then why couldn't it be done after the elections? Their (BJP) only aim is to make every issue about Hindus and Muslims..." pic.twitter.com/tGCFMTR5HD

— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2024

Attacking the Centre, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that CAA is divisive and based on Godse’s thought that wanted to reduce Muslims to second-class citizens. 

"Aap chronology samajhiye, pehle election season aayega phir CAA rules aayenge. Our objections to CAA remain the same. CAA is divisive & based on Godse’s thought that wanted to reduce Muslims to second-class citizens. Give asylum to anyone who is persecuted but citizenship must not be based on religion or nationality. The govt should explain why it kept these rules pending for five years & why it’s implementing it now. Along with NPR-NRC, CAA is meant to only target Muslims, it serves no other purpose. Indians who came out on the streets to oppose CAA NPR NRC will have no choice but to oppose it again," posts AIMIM chief.

Aap chronology samajhiye, pehle election season aayega phir CAA rules aayenge. Our objections to CAA remain the same. CAA is divisive & based on Godse’s thought that wanted to reduce Muslims to second-class citizens.

Give asylum to anyone who is persecuted but citizenship must…

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) March 11, 2024

The newly notified rules streamline the application process, allowing eligible migrants to apply online through a dedicated portal.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has prepared a portal to facilitate the application process, which will be entirely online. Applicants will be required to declare the year of their entry into India without travel documents, and no additional documentation will be requested from them.