CAA will not be implemented in Kerala: CM Pinarayi Vijayan reiterates his govt's stance

Thiruvananthapuram: Calling the Citizenship (Amendment) Act ( CAA ) against the secularism of the country, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday asserted that his government would not implement it.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function organized to mark the conclusion of his government's first anniversary celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram.

"The government has a clear position on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). That will continue," he said.

He said persons holding responsible positions have often said the law would be implemented.

"No one here has the authority to determine citizenship on the basis of religion," he continued.

Noting that the Constitution is supreme in deciding such matters, he said the state government has taken its stand on the issue based on Constitutional principles.

He also accused the Centre of attempting to divide the country on communal lines and thereby trigger unrest among the common populace.

Last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said in Siliguri in West Bengal that the law would be implemented once the COVID-19 pandemic has ended.

Reacting to this, Trinamool Congress 's national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee called it "BJP's jumla."

Even after two and a half years after enacting the CAA, the Central government is yet to frame rules to execute the law, Banerjee said.

He also said that Shah announced in West Bengal that the government would implement the CAA as soon as the pandemic ends but he remained silent during his 3-day visit to Assam.

They are taking so much time to frame the rules of the law but we have made our stance on CAA clear from day one that we oppose the draconian act, Banerjee said.

The CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities – Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians – who have migrated from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, after facing faith-based persecution