Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday said the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be repealed in the first session of Parliament after the formation of the India Bloc government at the Centre.
Chidambaram said that the Congress party intends to repeal the CAA, although it does not mention it in its manifesto.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M) have been continuously targeting the Congress, saying that its manifesto fails to mention the CAA.
Speaking to the media here, Chidambaram claimed that it was not mentioned in the manifesto "because it took too long".
The former Union minister said the BJP's 10-year rule had caused tremendous damage to the country as it misused its "overwhelming majority" in Parliament."There is a long list of laws, out of which five laws will be completely repealed, take it from me, I am the chairman of the manifesto committee. I never wrote about it, I know what the intention was. To CAA Will be cancelled." No amendment. We have made it clear,” Chidambaram said.He said that the CAA will be repealed in the first session of Parliament in which the INDI block will form the government.
Rejecting Vijayan's claim that the Congress had not opposed the law, Chidambaram said Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor had spoken against the CA in Parliament.
Asked whether the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya would have any impact on the elections, Chidambaram said he hoped not.
“There is a temple in Ayodhya now. We are happy.People wanted a temple and a temple was built. This should be the end of the story. Why should the temple in Ayodhya play a role in politics or elections and who should rule? I should have no role in the country,'' Chidambaram said.
On the issue of national border security, the senior Congress leader alleged that the BJP government was hiding the truth from the people of the country that "Chinese troops have occupied thousands of square kilometers of Indian land".
Chidambaram said, “This is a fact which has been testified by the Ladakh MP.This fact has been testified by the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh. So, to say that they have secured our border is a complete lie."
He also attacked the BJP-led NDA government and said the saffron party is no longer a political party but has become a cult that worships Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Taking aim at the Modi government, Chidambaram said there has been a "severe erosion" of freedom of speech and expression in the 10 years of Modi rule, urging people to "restore democracy".
Chidambaram said, "BJP prepared the manifesto, which is not named manifesto, in 14 days.He called it Modi's guarantee. BJP is no longer a political party. It has become a cult and this cult worships Narendra Modi."
He claimed that "Modi's guarantee" reminds everyone of countries where cults are worshipped.
He said, “Cult worship has started gaining strength in India and this will lead to dictatorship.''He alleged that there has been severe censorship on freedom of expression during the 10 years of Modi rule.
Chidambaram said, "If Modi comes back to power for the third time, he can amend the Constitution... We have to restore democracy."
The Congress leader also criticized Vijayan, who has been vocal against the Congress and Rahul Gandhi these days, and asked the Left leader to see this election as a national election, which it is.
He alleged that its ally CPI(M) in India Bloc is fighting this election in Kerala as if it is a state election.
“And from the national point of view, who is in a better position to fight the BJP to form the government in Delhi.Who is better placed to fight the BJP all over India, it is clearly the Congress and not the CPI(M). CPI(M) is virtually now a single state party,'' Chidambaram said.
He appealed to the people to vote India Bloc to power in Delhi.
He said, “I am not sure whether I will be able to hold such a press conference if Mr Modi is elected for the third time. I am not sure whether you will be free to ask any questions to the BJP leaders.,
Voting for the Lok Sabha elections will be held in Kerala on 26 April and the results across the country will be declared on 4 June.
Chidambaram said that the Congress party intends to repeal the CAA, although it does not mention it in its manifesto.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M) have been continuously targeting the Congress, saying that its manifesto fails to mention the CAA.
Speaking to the media here, Chidambaram claimed that it was not mentioned in the manifesto "because it took too long".
The former Union minister said the BJP's 10-year rule had caused tremendous damage to the country as it misused its "overwhelming majority" in Parliament."There is a long list of laws, out of which five laws will be completely repealed, take it from me, I am the chairman of the manifesto committee. I never wrote about it, I know what the intention was. To CAA Will be cancelled." No amendment. We have made it clear,” Chidambaram said.He said that the CAA will be repealed in the first session of Parliament in which the INDI block will form the government.
Rejecting Vijayan's claim that the Congress had not opposed the law, Chidambaram said Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor had spoken against the CA in Parliament.
Asked whether the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya would have any impact on the elections, Chidambaram said he hoped not.
“There is a temple in Ayodhya now. We are happy.People wanted a temple and a temple was built. This should be the end of the story. Why should the temple in Ayodhya play a role in politics or elections and who should rule? I should have no role in the country,'' Chidambaram said.
On the issue of national border security, the senior Congress leader alleged that the BJP government was hiding the truth from the people of the country that "Chinese troops have occupied thousands of square kilometers of Indian land".
Chidambaram said, “This is a fact which has been testified by the Ladakh MP.This fact has been testified by the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh. So, to say that they have secured our border is a complete lie."
He also attacked the BJP-led NDA government and said the saffron party is no longer a political party but has become a cult that worships Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Taking aim at the Modi government, Chidambaram said there has been a "severe erosion" of freedom of speech and expression in the 10 years of Modi rule, urging people to "restore democracy".
Chidambaram said, "BJP prepared the manifesto, which is not named manifesto, in 14 days.He called it Modi's guarantee. BJP is no longer a political party. It has become a cult and this cult worships Narendra Modi."
He claimed that "Modi's guarantee" reminds everyone of countries where cults are worshipped.
He said, “Cult worship has started gaining strength in India and this will lead to dictatorship.''He alleged that there has been severe censorship on freedom of expression during the 10 years of Modi rule.
Chidambaram said, "If Modi comes back to power for the third time, he can amend the Constitution... We have to restore democracy."
The Congress leader also criticized Vijayan, who has been vocal against the Congress and Rahul Gandhi these days, and asked the Left leader to see this election as a national election, which it is.
He alleged that its ally CPI(M) in India Bloc is fighting this election in Kerala as if it is a state election.
“And from the national point of view, who is in a better position to fight the BJP to form the government in Delhi.Who is better placed to fight the BJP all over India, it is clearly the Congress and not the CPI(M). CPI(M) is virtually now a single state party,'' Chidambaram said.
He appealed to the people to vote India Bloc to power in Delhi.
He said, “I am not sure whether I will be able to hold such a press conference if Mr Modi is elected for the third time. I am not sure whether you will be free to ask any questions to the BJP leaders.,
Voting for the Lok Sabha elections will be held in Kerala on 26 April and the results across the country will be declared on 4 June.
