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The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre on a batch of 59 pleas challenging the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. A Bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice BR Gavai and Justice Surya Kant however have refused to stay the implementation of the Citizenship Act, 2019. The court said it will hear the pleas in January. Centre asked to file response by second week of January.
Over two dozen petitions were filed against CAA, including one by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, the All Assam Students Union and the former king of Tripura.
CAA faces opposition from people of Assam and other northeastern states as they fear a demographic invasion. It has also been pointed out that the law would save Hindus left out of the controversial National Register of Citizens in Assam while detain Muslims in camps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi however sought to assuage concerns of Indians apprehensive about getting stripped of their citizenship. “The Congress is spreading lies, creating an atmosphere of fear for Muslims over the new law. Citizenship (Amendment) Act neither takes away the rights of Indian citizens nor harms them in any manner,” he said.
My open challenge to the Congress Party, which is shamelessly peddling lies… pic.twitter.com/nxX6oeCceW
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 17, 2019
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “Citizenship act is a dangerous law. I suggest Citizenship Amendment Act should be taken back. Entire India is burning over Citizenship Amendment Act. Nation doesn’t need this act.”
