Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi-led government, alleging that the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is against the interests of India. In a detailed statement posted in Hindi on social media platform X, Kejriwal accused the BJP of playing “dirty politics” with the CAA to secure votes from neighboring countries.
Kejriwal’s criticism comes in the wake of the Modi government’s announcement of the implementation of the CAA, a legislation that was passed in 2019. The CAA, which aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, has faced widespread opposition and protests across the country.
The Delhi CM alleged that the BJP’s move to implement the CAA is aimed at making poor people from neighboring countries its vote bank in India. He claimed that while the BJP government struggles to provide jobs and housing for Indian citizens, it is eager to accommodate migrants from Pakistan by offering them jobs and settling them in Indian homes.
“What is this CAA? BJP Government at the Centre says that if minorities from three countries – Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan – want to get Indian citizenship, they will be granted the same. It means that a large number of minorities will be brought to our country. They will be given jobs and houses will be built for them,” stated Kejriwal in his post.
Kejriwal further accused the Modi government of misusing funds that should be allocated for the development of Indian families and the country’s infrastructure by diverting them towards the settlement of migrants from Pakistan.
The implementation of the CAA has been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that it discriminates against Muslims and undermines the secular fabric of India. However, proponents of the legislation argue that it provides refuge to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently announced the notification of the rules under the CAA, enabling eligible persons to apply for Indian citizenship. These rules, called the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024, aim to facilitate the process of granting citizenship to eligible migrants as per the provisions of the CAA-2019.
The confrontation between the Delhi CM and the central government underscores the deep divisions and political tensions surrounding the CAA, which continue to dominate public discourse as the country gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Modi government has yet to respond to Kejriwal’s allegations, but the issue is expected to remain a focal point of political debate in the days to come.
