CHENNAI, DEC 16
The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam vowed to continue its fight against the Citizhenship (Amendment) Act. The ruling BJP at the centre brought this act to cover up the economic slow down, said DMK president M.K. Stalin.
As part of the DMK’s campaign strategy, a video of Stalin’s message was circulated among the party men and also social media on Sunday, he said the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was brought in by the Centre to divert attention of the public from the economic slowdown. He said the CAA was divisive on religious lines and selectively excluded Sri Lankan Tamils. He also vowed to continue the fight against the new Act.
“Our stand on various issues is very clear. The CAA is against the fundamentals of the Constitution. It is also divisive, creating rifts on religious grounds, an anti-people measure. Hence, we opposed it in both the Houses of Parliament and voted against it. But, the AIADMK supported it and largely helped the Centre to pass it as an Act.
“Protests are being witnessed in the Northeast and other parts of the country and the DMK too is organizing agitations in Tamil Nadu. As always, a section of people are attacking the DMK for opposing everything that the Centre does,” he added.
Stalin questioned the need for carrying out amendments in the Citizenship Act of 1955, which had been in place for over 60 years. “The Centre had undertaken the move only to divert the attention of the people, who are anguished and feel let down by the economic slowdown and unemployment among other issues,” Stalin said.
He said had the amendment treated all refugees equally, DMK would not have opposed it. “But, this amendment is selectively ignoring Muslims and excluded Sri Lankan Tamils from its ambit. The Centre is dividing people on religious lines and AIADMK is supporting the move. We will continue to oppose it,” Stalin added.
