Somaiya slams govt for ‘notice’ to school on CAA

Mumbai: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has slammed the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government for allegedly issuing notice to a city school for organising a Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) awareness programme.

“It’s unfortunate that the Thackeray Sarkar has issued notice to Dayanand School of Mumbai for an education programme on #CAA, CAA passed by Parliament. President gave assent. Implementation started now. We condemn Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government action,” Mr Somaiya tweeted.

“The CAA was passed by Parliament and the Rashtrapati. If citizens, private/social organisations or educational institutions arrange any educational, informational, awareness programme, why should anybody object,” he said.

The Act, under which non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will be given Indian citizenship, came into force from January 10 after a gazette notification was issued by the Centre.

“The BJP has strongly objected the notice issued by the education department against Dayanand School… for participation of some of its students in the CAA educative, awareness programme. I will file a police complaint against such notice (officials) Tuesday. The complaint letter has already been sent to the education department,” the former BJP MP said.

The CAA was passed by Parliament on December 11. Those opposed to the legislation are of the view that it is for the first time that India will grant citizenship on the basis of religion, which violates the basic tenets of the country’s Constitution.

However, the government and ruling BJP have defended the Act, saying that minority groups from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have no other option but to come to India when they face religious persecution there.