Citizenship (Amendment) Act to distract people from economic slowdown, says Kamal Nath

In a clear indication that he will t implement citizenship law in Mhya Presh, Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Friday alleged Union government was practising divisive politics and using "politics of distractions" to divert attention from country's ecomic slowdown. dressing newspersons at Indian Women's Press Club, Nath said he was most worried about future of Indian youth, given present ecomic state of country.

"Anything that is divisive, we will t do it. stand of Congress in any law that divides society will be stand of MP government," Kamal Nath said  Chief Minister of Mhya Presh also said correct protocol before introduction of CAB would have been to have a meeting of chief ministers with government so that ir objections and issues could be dressed. " worst part is politics of distraction, changing orbit of people's imagination. Every time re is an ecomic slowdown, a bill is introduced, a decision is taken to distract people," Kamal Nath said.

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Kamal Nath also said changes being affected in country were t "natural" but by "design". He said government was instilling values in society which are t "ethos" of India. Asked about stability of his government, CM said, "Mhya Presh is t Karnataka." "Before Karnataka, y h tried same tricks of buying and selling MLAs, but y failed," he said.

States rejecting Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

Captain Amarinder Singh, Kamal Nath, Mamata Banerjee, Pinrayi Vijayan, and Bhupesh Baghel chief ministers of Punjab, Mhya Presh, West Bengal, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh respectively have withdrawn ir support for Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. chief ministers of five states have refused implementation of Bill. According to MHA sources, issue of citizenship comes under Union List by Seventh Schedule of Constitution, and refore such amendment is applicable for all states.

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Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government in being allegedly coerced to reject Bill, which was opposed by NCP-Congress of Maha Vikas Aghi. Reports brimming from Maharashtra indicated that top leers of Congress party could reconsider ir support for Maha Vikas Aghi government, in case BJP's former ally, fails to refuse Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in state. 

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament. President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to bill on Thursday, turning it into an Act. According to Act, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who h come to India till Dec 31, 2014, from Pakistan, Banglesh, and Afghanistan because of religious persecution will t be treated as illegal immigrants and be given Indian citizenship.

Act says n-Muslim refugees will be given Indian citizenship after ir stay in India for five years, inste of earlier requirement of 11 years. Act also proposes to give immunity to such refugees facing cases as illegal immigrants. According to legislation, it will t be applicable to tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura as included in Sixth Schedule of Constitution and in areas covered under Inner Line Permit, tified under Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.

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(With PTI inputs)