Withdraw CAA, bring new law after consensus: Mayawati

BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday urged Centre to withdraw amended citizenship law and seek consensus to bring in a new one, even as she lashed out at both BJP and Congress for being “two sides of same coin”.

She accused Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at Centre of t taking ors into confidence before bringing in Citizen Amendment Bill (CAB). “That’s why, re is an in outcry country," Mayawati told reporters at a press conference in Luckw on her 64th birthday.

“ BSP h been repeatedly urging Centre to first send CAB to Standing Committee, so that it becomes an absolutely correct law," she said.

Accusing Centre of stubbornness, she said Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at first glance appears to be divisive and unconstitutional. Mayawati accused BJP and opposition Congress of playing “dirty politics”.

"For past some time, political parties are accusing each or of spreing lies and indulging in dirty politics, in which BJP and Congress are ahe of ors,” she said.

“Our party does t indulge in dirty politics on basis of lies. I am saying this today as on foundation day of Congress last month, it was said that barring Congress, or opposition parties in UP are t raising ir voice against NRC and CAA," Mayawati said, also referring to criticism of National Register of Citizens.

"This is a baseless allegation as, when Union Cabinet approved CAB, I was first to register a protest. At that time, Congress and most or parties were silent on it. ir silence was broken when Bill was tabled in Parliament,” she said.

“Our party opposed it in both Houses of Parliament," she ded.

amended law allows an easier route to citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Parsis and Jains who entered India from three neighbouring countries before 2015 after facing religious persecution. Muslims don’t figure in list.

"It is t that Muslims in neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, are t oppressed by ir governments. Crime and atrocities can happen against anyone. Hence, Centre should reconsider CAA, withdraw it, and bring a new law after consensus,” Mayawati said.

RE | Green Corridor App To Ensure For Hassle-free Movement During Medical Emergencies: Official

She called BSP a disciplined party which holds peaceful protests only after taking permission from authorities.

“It does t indulge in dirty politics like or political parties. Strong action is initiated on anyone going against party line on this issue," she said, in an apparent distancing from street protests in Uttar Presh over CAA.

BSP leer claimed re is an atmosphere of fear and tension, ding that country faced a similar situation during Congress rule.

“ current BJP government, like Congress, is misusing its power for its personal and political interest, and it seems that country's democracy and constitutional system are under pressure," she said. “Today our country is in helines for wrong and negative reasons. This is an issue of national concern," she said.

" Congress party and Company are trying to derive political mile by taking vant of failure of BJP government,” she said.

“When central government does t function by values enshrined in Constitution, n most sorrow is faced by Dalits, tribals, backward classes, Muslims and or religious mirities,” she ded.

"Our party considers BJP and Congress as two sides of same coin," she said.

"In current regime of BJP-led central government, poverty, unemployment, anarchy, violence and tension have exceeded that during Congress party,” she said. “ Congress does t have moral right to criticise BJP," she ded.

“ people of country have punished Congress for its wrongdoing, and it is for this reason that BJP came to power. But if BJP’s central government follows pattern of Congress government, its condition will be worse," she said.

BSP chief released English and Hindi editions of her memoirs.

RE | MP: Probe Begins Into Urdu Letter With 'powder' Sent To Pragya

RE | Case Against 150 Unidentified People After Left Students 'gherao' Mamata