Stalin Declares Citizenship Amendment Act Unconstitutional, Vows Not To Implement In Tamil Nadu

On implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act, Stalin stated that the Tamil Nadu government would not accept any law that threatened the nation's unity.

Stalin made the remarks in a press release in which he vehemently criticised the CAA arguing that it discriminates against certain religious groups and undermines the secular fabric of India.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin asserted that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) implemented by the Central government contradicts the principles of the Constitution. As a result, Stalin declared that the CAA would not be enforced in Tamil Nadu under his leadership.

Stalin made the remarks in a press release in which he vehemently criticised the CAA arguing that it discriminates against certain religious groups and undermines the secular fabric of India.

In the press release, MK Stalin said, "The government firmly believes that this Act which will create divides among the people will not yield any advantages and is entirely unnecessary. It should be repealed as it will only bring suffering to the people of India."

Therefore, he said, "I want to emphatically state to the people of Tamil Nadu at this time that the Tamil Nadu government will in no way allow the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act enacted by the Union Government, as it will damage the unity of the country and the Tamil Nadu government will not accommodate any law that causes harm to national unity."

In 2021, Tamil Nadu government passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 at the state Assembly with the support of MLAs of DMK and allied parties. The resolution was passed even as BJP and AIADMK MLAs staged a walkout from the Assembly.

Passing the resolution, MK Stalin said, “Sri Lankan Tamils who were unable to reside in their home countries have come to Tamil Nadu and are residing in rehabilitation centres. However, the CAA is curbing the rights of those refugees who do not want to go back to their country and instead get citizenship in India.”

The implementation of the law just a month before the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 caused major ripples.