'BJP will have to pay heavy price for stubbornness on CAA': Punjab CM Captain Amarinder

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday warned BJP by saying that it will have to pay a heavy price for its “stubbornness” over issue of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Taking on former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan over “threat” of Centre implementing CAA at any cost, Captain Amarinder Singh made remark.

"An elected government which refuses to heed voice of its people or respond to ir anger is bound to lose ir confidence and collapse," warned Punjab Chief Minister, adding that " BJP’s stance on issue smacked of a dangerously fascist approach that would lead to ir eventual downfall."

'You cant force us to do so'

As far as his government was concerned, re was way it would allow "brazenly divisive Act" to be implemented in Punjab, Captain Amarinder asserted. “You cant force us to do so,” he declared, even as he reiterated that neir he r Congress was against grant of citizenship of persecuted mirities in or countries, such as Sikhs in Pakistan, y were completely opposed to discrimination in CAA against certain religious communities, including Muslims. 

"Despite nationwide public outr over controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), BJP-led NDA government at Centre was refusing to ackwledge unconstitutionality of legislation", said Punjab Chief Minister, lashing out at Chouhan for his shockingly inconsiderate remarks on issue. "It was obvious that Chouhan, like or BJP leaders, had inkling of implications or consequences of CAA, r did he apparently want to understand same," said Captain Amarinder in a hard-hitting reaction to comments made by Chouhan on Tuesday in Ludhiana.

'He had absolutely idea what he was talking about'

"Chouhan had absolutely idea what he was talking about, r had he bored to study Act, which has triggered massive public protests across country," said Punjab CM. se protests, he said, were t “ brainchild of Congress” or any or party, as Chouhan was claiming, but result of a spontaneous outr among Indians cutting across religious and party lines. “Does Chauhan really believe that lakhs of people, including youth and students, who had come out on streets to brave bullets and lathis, were Congress supporters?” asked Captain Amarinder. “Can’t he or or BJP leaders hear voice of se protestors, majority of whom have personal stake in matter?” he added.

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" people of India could see what Chouhan had failed to see – that CAA was an out and out unconstitutional enactment which was aimed at destroying secular ethos on which India’s Constitution and its ideology was based," Captain Amarinder quipped. It was obvious, he said, that CAA had become an ego issue for ruling BJP and its leadership, which had closed its eyes to dam it would cause to Indian democratic polity, especially in conjunction with National Register of Citizens (NRC). " people of India were fools and could see how CAA was designed to destroy nation’s secular charter, said Punjab Chief Minister". India, he added, would t forgive BJP and its allies for ir attempt to demolish bedrock of its future.

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