Kerala: UDF holds midnight torch march in Kannur against CAA implementation

The United Democratic Front (UDF) organised a night march in Kannur City, Kerala, in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The CAA, which grants citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014, has faced widespread criticism.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Monday, renewed his opposition to the CAA, condemning it as a law that promotes religious division. He asserted that the contentious law would not be implemented in Kerala.

The stance of the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) remains the same, said Vijayan in a statement, adding that Kerala stands united against this law. This statement was released shortly after the Central government announced its intention to enforce the contentious CAA, 2019.

However, the Congress-led UDF accused Chief Minister Vijayan of misleading the public by claiming that the CAA would not be implemented in Kerala, as per reports from PTI.

V D Satheesan, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, pointed out that the CAA is a central law passed by the Parliament and its rules have been notified. He remarked that claiming the CAA will not be implemented in Kerala is baseless. Satheesan urged the Chief Minister to show sincerity by withdrawing cases against individuals involved in the anti-CAA protests of 2019 and actively join the movement against the implementation of the legislation.

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