NEW DELHI : BJP is indulging in false propaganda against CPI(M) to justify its unacceptable Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), said Politburo in its statement on Wednesday.
Back in 2012, CPI(M) General Secretary, Prakash Karat, wrote to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking to consider citizenship for Bengali refugees. BJP is now flaunting that letter, in a bid to justify its newly enacted law.
BJP spokespersons are misinterpreting the writing on social media saying, CPI(M) demanded citizenship for minority refugees from Bangladesh but now stands to oppose the Centre’s decision to grant such citizenship. This is simply twisted fact on the issue.
CPI(M) always held that, the Bengali refugees who first arrived from East Pakistan and later from Bangladesh and were minorities in the respective countries, should be granted Indian citizenship. However the new amendment that discriminates this segment based on their religion, leaves Muslims stateless. And CPI(M) never argued to slice out the Muslim community among refugees, This is exactly why the party opposes CAA,
CPI(M) in its resolution titled “For Rights of The Bengali Refugees” lend great clarity on the issue during 20th Party Congress held in Kozhikode in 2012,
The resolution stated that Bengali refugees should be granted citizenship without compromising provisions of the Assam Accord. Under Assam Accord of 1985, foreigners who entered Assam before March 25, 1971 were eligible for Indian citizenship. CAA violates that timeline eligibility - one of the main reasons, why CPI(M) opposed the Bill vehemently in the Parliament, the statement said.
CPI(M) made 3 suggestions in Parliament, with regard to the Bill
In the first place, discriminating refugees on religious basis should be dropped. Secondly, Sri Lankan Tamils living in Tamil Nadu too should be conferred citizenship. Thirdly, the Bill should exclude northeastern states of the country, from its purview, the PB statement clarified.
