Mamata Banerjee, Stalin oppose CAA; Naveen Patnaik's BJD shows support

A day after the Centre notified the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Tamil Nadu counterpart Stalin opposed the controversial law. Calling CAA 'divisive and bereft of any use', Stalin asserted that it will not be implemented in the state. Stalin said the CAA was against the basic structure of the Constitution and must be repealed.

"The stand of the government is that this law is completely unwarranted; it is one that must be repealed," said Stalin.

The DMK chief reiterated that the CAA went against pluralism, secularism, minority communities and the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee expressed doubts over legal validity of CAA rules. She said it is a game to take away citizens' rights and directly linked to the implementation of the NRC.

Addressing a programme in Habra in North 24 Parganas district, Banerjee urged the people to think several times before applying for citizenship under the law.

Banerjee alleged that the CAA was unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Meanwhile, Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal supported the CAA saying it has nothing to do with Indian citizens and only deals with foreigners.

BJD lawmaker Parsuram Dhada said, "The BJD welcomes the CAA as it is giving citizenship to the people and not taking away anyone’s rights to live in the country."

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on December 17, 2019, had said, "The Citizenship Amendment Act has nothing to do with Indian citizens, it only deals with foreigners. The Biju Janata Dal MPs, both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, made it clear that we do not support NRC. I would like to appeal to our citizens to let peace prevail and not indulge in rumour-mongering".