Assam’s opposition parties have declared their opposition to any efforts by the central government to enforce the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The statement responds to Union MoS for Home Ajay Mishra’s claim that they anticipate preparing the final draft of the legislation by March.
They asserted that the residents of the state would not accept any effort to enforce an ‘unconstitutional’ law, contradicting the stipulations of the Assam Accord of 1985. Addressing the Matua community in West Bengal on Sunday, Mishra mentioned that the momentum for implementing the CAA has increased, and they anticipate preparing the final draft by March.
Congress Member of Parliament Abdul Khaleque suggested that the Indian government should diplomatically engage with Bangladesh to safeguard the Hindu population, preventing them from seeking refuge in India due to religious persecution.
The Member of Parliament for Barpeta Lok Sabha accused the BJP, which claims to take up Hindu causes, of attempting to close down the renowned Dhakeshwari temple in Bangladesh through the CAA.
Expressing concern, Khaleque stated that bringing all Hindus to India under the pretext of communal persecution would leave no one there to even light a lamp in the temple. Debabrata Saikia, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assam assembly, asserted that the Congress will oppose the CAA as it contradicts the provisions of the Assam Accord.
He stressed that the Assam Accord has set March 25, 1971, as the date for identifying illegal foreigners in the state, and any law contradicting it will face rejection.
Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the chief of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), stated that the residents of the state will not accept an unconstitutional legislation like the CAA. He expressed that the imposition of such a law, contrary to the fundamental principles of secularism in the country, will not be tolerated by the people.
Gogoi expressed that Assam is unwilling to bear any additional burden of foreigners and urged the Prime Minister to provide rehabilitation for Hindus entering the country in his home state, Gujarat.
In contrast, BJP legislator Jitu Goswami affirmed that the saffron party is renowned for fulfilling its commitments, whether related to welfare schemes or other matters. He stated, “The BJP consistently delivers on its promises, whether it’s our commitment to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Ayushman Bharat scheme, or the CAA”.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) aims to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, provided they have resided in India for five years. Although it received approval from both Houses of Parliament and Presidential assent in December 2019, the associated rules are still pending notification.
