The opposition to the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resonated in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, with the DMK and its allies demanding a resolution over the issue be taken up, and staging a walk out after Speaker P Dhanapal said that the matter was under his scrutiny.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin said that the CAA has evoked nation-wide opposition since it was not in tune with the “unity and integrity” of the country. He urged that a resolution he had proposed on the issue be taken up.

Also read:Kerala Assembly passes resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act

The DMK had previously submitted a plea with Assembly Secretariat urging that a resolution be taken up on the CAA. Stalin had been demanding a resolution in the House against the CAA after the Kerala Assembly adopted it some days ago.

Speaker P Dhanapal said Stalin’s plea to take up a resolution on CAA was under his consideration, and added that an appropriate decision will be taken. When the proposal for a resolution was under his scrutiny, Stalin cannot get into the nitty gritty of the issue, he said. “I will let you know my decision (on allowing the resolution),” the Speaker said.

However, members of the DMK were on their feet urging the Speaker to give his nod for taking up the resolution.

When DMK Deputy leader Duraimurgan sought an assurance from Dhanapal that their proposed resolution will be taken up, the Speaker said he will take a decision on allowing the resolution after scrutinising the matter. There are rules which have to be looked into as well, he noted.

Stalin said his party was only asking that the resolution be taken up since the “entire country is afire over the issue”. Protest demonstrations and violence was being witnessed against the CAA, he said.

When Speaker Dhanapal reiterated that he will take a decision at the appropriate time over the opposition demand, Stalin led the walk out of this party. Congress legislature party leader KR Ramasamy and his party MLAs, the lone IUML MLA KAM Muhammed Abubacker besides ruling party’s ally M Tamimun Ansari followed suit.

According to Citizenship Amendment Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

Related Topics