Vijayan Slams Congress for Omitting CAA from Manifesto, Alleges Fear of Controversy

GG News Bureau
Kollam, 9th April. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the Congress party for allegedly avoiding any mention of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in their election manifesto.

Speaking at a press conference, Vijayan accused the Congress of deliberately sidestepping the contentious issue, suggesting it reflects their apprehension towards addressing it directly.

He pointed out that while the Congress manifesto pledges to repeal several laws, including the GST, that purportedly violate constitutional norms, it conspicuously avoids any reference to the CAA. Vijayan interpreted this omission as a sign of the Congress’s reluctance to confront the issue head-on.

Vijayan also challenged the assertion by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, who claimed that the manifesto guarantees protection for linguistic and religious minorities.

Vijayan argued that while the manifesto does promise to uphold the rights of religious minorities under various articles of the Constitution, it fails to address the fundamental issue raised by the CAA, which is perceived as a violation of Article 14.

Highlighting the CPI(M)’s agreement with the Congress’s commitment to review and amend laws deemed anti-people, Vijayan acknowledged the importance of such reforms. However, he reiterated his criticism of the Congress’s silence on the CAA, emphasizing its significance in the current socio-political context.

The Citizenship Amendment Act, passed in December 2019 and subsequently enacted, has been a subject of widespread protests and controversy across India.

Critics argue that the law discriminates against Muslims by offering expedited citizenship to non-Muslim migrants from neighboring countries.”