BIG: Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray disagrees with NCP and Congress, backs implementation of CAA

Taking a completely different stance from allies NCP and Congress, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray backed Citizenship Amendment Act. He stated that law did t take away anyone’s citizenship. Speaking exclusively to Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Thackeray agreed that this was a law to provide citizenship to persecuted mirities from or countries. He also asserted that Maha Vikas Aghadi government would t bring in a resolution in state Assembly against CAA. At same time, he urged Centre to take care of  housing and employment of persecuted mirities.  

Read: CAA Used To Divert Attention From Ecomic Issues, Govt Hiding Real Picture: Oppn In Rajya Sabha

Uddhav Thackeray remarked, “First, we will talk about CAA. We have persecuted mirities in our neighbouring countries. In fact, y are Hindus. Pakistan and Bangladesh are Islamic countries. CAA is t a law to drive out people of country. Amit Shah has said that this is a law to give citizenship. I agree with that. It is a law to give citizenship to persecuted people of our neighbouring countries.” 

He added, “re is reason to pass a resolution in Assembly that we will t implement CAA. Because I will reiterate once again that CAA does t contain any provision to throw out people from here. It is to assimilate persecuted Hindus in our country. But Centre should take up responsibility of ir shelter and employment.” 

Read: TRS MP Appreciates Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's Letter To EU Over CAA Draft Resolution

MVA allies differ

Thackeray’s big declaration on CAA comes even as Shiv Sena adopted a different position in both Houses of Parliament. For instance, while Sena MPs backed legislation in Lok Sabha, its party MPs including Sanjay Raut refused to participate in voting process in Upper House of Parliament. On or hand, both NCP and Congress ministers in Maha Vikas Aghadi government have made it clear that CAA and NRC would t be implemented in state.  

Read: EXCLUSIVE: Republic Accesses PFI Vice-Chairman's Letter To ED Amid CAA Protest Link Probe

What is CAA? 

CAA seeks to provide citizenship to mirity communities namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This will be applicable to members of se communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. Moreover, y will t be considered as illegal migrants. Additionally, mandatory residence period for naturalised citizenship for se communities has been reduced to five years. 

Read: Digvijaya Singh Questions Centre On Need For CAA, Cites Citizenship Granted To Adnan Sami