Punjab assembly passes resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act

The Punjab assembly on Friday passed a resolution against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, the second state to do so after Kerala. It termed the Act “unconstitutional".

State minister and senior Congress leader Brahm Mohindra moved the resolution on the second of the two-day special assembly session.

"The CAA enacted by Parliament has caused countrywide anguish and social unrest with widespread protests all over the country. The state of Punjab also witnessed protests against this legislation, which were peaceful and involved all segments of our society," Mohindra said while reading out the resolution, according to a news report by Press Trust of India.

Under the Act, India will provide citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim religious minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who entered the country till 31 December 2014.

On Tuesday, Kerala moved the Supreme Court (SC) challenging CAA, which was notified on 10 January.

The plea, filed under Article 131 of the Constitution on disputes between the Centre and states, said the Act violates the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution of India, right to life under Article 21, and freedom to practise religion under Article 25.

The developments come amid nationwide protests against the contentious legislation, seen as anti-Muslim. The legislation has deeply divided the country between two opposing groups. Those opposing it contend that it violates the Constitution and gives preferential treatment to some on religious lines.

The section supporting it argues that Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are already Islamic countries and hence citizenship can’t be provided to Muslims from there. The citizenship can thus be given to only those fled from there because of religious persecution, they contend.

The SC on 10 January issued notices to all petitioners who have moved different high courts challenging the constitutional validity of the CAA, seeking their views on the Centre’s plea to transfer their petitions to the top court.