New Delhi: Responding to Union home minister Amit Shah challenge opposition parties for a debate on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, several leaders across the nation have announced that they are ready to take up the offer.
Shah, addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, had accused opposition parties of spreading misconceptions about CAA, and instigating riots and arson. He also dared them to speak on the CAA “for five minutes.”
To this, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) is tampering with the Indian Constitution because it has a majority in parliament. “As for the question of debate, I say to the BJP people, pick a place and stage, and the BJP can also call its favourite channels [TV news channels]…we are ready to debate on development,” said Yadav.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati also tweeted that her party accepts the challenge. “The BJP government is troubled by the struggle and protests organised by the youth and women across the country against the CAA, the proposed nationwide NRC and the NPR,” she wrote in a tweet.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, while addressing a rally in Telangana’s Karimnagar on Tuesday, said he would debate Shah on CAA. “You should debate with me. I am here. Why debate with them? The debate should be with a bearded man. I can debate with them on CAA, NPR and NRC,” he said.
Prashant Kishor, whose party Janata Dal (United) (JDU) is in alliance with the BJP in Bihar, also slammed Shah for CAA and said it will not be implemented in the state.
Also Read: Editorial: The Protests are Not Just Anti-CAA, But Pro-Constitution
“Being dismissive of citizens’ dissent couldn’t be the sign of strength of any Govt. Amit Shah JI, if you don’t care for those protesting against CAA, NRC, why don’t you go ahead and try implementing the CAA & NRC in the chronology that you so audaciously announced to the nation,” he said in a tweet.
Being dismissive of citizens’ dissent couldn’t be the sign of strength of any Govt. @amitshah Ji, if you don’t care for those protesting against #CAA_NRC, why don’t you go ahead and try implementing the CAA & NRC in the chronology that you so audaciously announced to the nation!
— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) January 22, 2020
Interestingly, on Sunday, he also thanked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for rejecting the NRC.
Following this, the BJP criticised Kishor and said, “CAA was passed in Parliament with JD(U)’s support and it will be implemented in all concerned states, including Bihar.”
Peoples protests, opposition parties and several experts have accused the law of violating the Indian Constitution by granting citizenship on the basis of religion. Others have also expressed fears that if the law, used in conjunction with the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC), could be used to disenfranchise Indian Muslims. However, the BJP has remained steadfast in its commitment to implement the Act, refusing to hear protestors or budge.