Citizenship Amendment Act Is Arbitrary: DMK Tells SC

The party also said that CAA keeps away Tamils of Indian origin staying in India after fleeing from Sri Lanka due to persecution as refugees.

Supreme Court

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Chennai: The DMK on Tuesday told the Supreme Court said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 destroys the secular fabric of the nation by discriminating people on the basis of their religion. The party also said that CAA keeps away Tamils of Indian origin staying in India after fleeing from Sri Lanka due to persecution as refugees.

According to ANI, DMK told the Supreme Court, “Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 is arbitrary as it relates to only 3 countries viz Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and pertains to only 6 religions viz Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities and expressly excludes Muslim religion.”

Filing an affidavit before the Supreme Court in its plea challenging the CAA, DMK said that even while considering religious minorities, it keeps such Tamils of Indian origin who are presently staying in India as refugees after fleeing from Sri Lanka due to persecution.

DMK tells Supreme Court that Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 is arbitrary as it relates to only 3 countries viz Pakistan, Afghanistan & Bangladesh & pertains to only 6 religions viz Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi & Christian communities & expressly excludes Muslim religion. pic.twitter.com/bk76fQNWw4

— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2022

The DMK organising secretary RS Bharati moved the SC seeking to quash the amendment. In the Affidavit, as per Times of India, the party said, "I respectfully submit that the Act introduces a completely new basis for the grant/non-grant of citizenship on the ground of religion which destroys the basic fabric of secularism."

It said that there is no reason why Muslims were excluded in six countries.

The party also stated that the Act fails to look into the reality of Tamil refugees being deprived of fundamental rights and other rights.