Yashwant Sinha promises not to implement CAA if elected president

Guwahati: Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha said he will ensure that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is not implemented if he is elected President. "If I am in Rashtrapati Bhavan, I will ensure that CAA is not implemented."

He added that the CAA was "foolishly drafted" in a hurry which is why the BJP-led government has not been able to implement it. Speaking with the lawmakers in Assam, he acknowledged that citizenship is a major issue for the state.

Sinha is in Assam to seek the support of "like-minded" parties.

Speaking about the Modi government, he alleged that the Constitution of India is not in any danger from outside forces but from those in power. "We have to safeguard it," said the Presidential candidate.

He added that the BJP government earlier said the CAA is not being implemented because of the pandemic. "Even now, they have not been able to implement it."

The election is on July 18.

The former minister of finance was unanimously named the joint candidate of 13 opposition parties. The Opposition also reached out to BJP and its allies to support Sinha so that India can have a "worthy Rashtrapati elected unopposed".

However, many including Shiv Sena have backed NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu. Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat criticised Uddhav Thackeray's decision by saying it is "inexplicable" at a time when "undemocratic means were used to bring down a government".

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), BSP, Akali Dal, Biju Janata Dal, and the YSR Congress party have also announced their support for Droupadi Murmu. The Aam Aadmi Party has not yet released a statement on the presidential polls.

The Opposition bloc, however, found support in Telangana where Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao gave a grand welcome to Sinha.