The Centre’s move to verify and approve citizenship applications from members of non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh living in five Indian states is illegal and a misguided move to enforce the CAA 2019, the Indian Union Muslim League alleged Monday.
“The Law which had to be frozen due to the agitations that swept across India, has now been unveiled under the guise of an epidemic,” party national organising secretary and Lok Sabha MP ET Muhammed Basheer posted on Facebook.
He further said that his party IUML has directed its legal cell to take this to Supreme Court.
IUML have strongly opposed the Narendra Modi government’s move to implement CAA in the Parliament to divide the people on the basis of religion, he adds.
The Centre on Friday issued a gazette notification granting powers under existing rules to authorities in 13 districts of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab to accept, verify and approve citizenship applications from members of non-Muslim communities hailing from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. With the Centre yet to frame rules under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019, which was fiercely protested against by various sections, the order has been issued under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship Rules, 2009.
“The centre is resorting to drastic and illegal measures to execute CAA. It has now empowered 13 districts across 3 states to take steps.The govt is yet again using the current pandemic to push its authoritarian agendas,” Basheer, three time parliamentarian said.
Left party leaders also called the Centre’s latest citizenship move as a back door entry of CAA.
“Subterfuge. Rules under CAA 2019 not framed, yet the Central govt issues gazette notification to implement it. Petitions challenging Constitutional validity of CAA continue to remain unheard. Hope SC takes this up promptly & stops back door implementation,” CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a Tweet.
CPI general secretary D Raja alleged the move “completely exposes the fascist character” of the present government.
