Congress takes out 'Maha rally' in Kerala demanding suspension of CAA
Thiruvananthapuram: Intensifying its protest against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, the Congress in Kerala took out a "Maha Rally" to the Raj Bhavan here on Saturday, demanding suspension of the law and to stop the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Addressing party workers, Former Union Finance minister P Chidambaram said the party's demand was to suspend CAA and completely stop NRC.
"Our demand is to suspend CAA and to completely stop NRC. These are our demands and we will continue to fight until they are met," the congress leader said.
Describing the CAA and NRC as most "unconstitutional" and "illogical", Chidambaram said he was confident that the Supreme court would strike it down.
"The Citizenship Amendment Act destroys the very basis of our Constitution. If they had two thirds of majority in Parliament, they would have amended the Constitution," the congress leader claimed.
Since the BJP led NDA government at the Centre was unable to amend the Constitution, they are amending it through the "backdoor," he said.
Noting that it was not a fight between Muslims and the Constitution, the Congress veteran said not just Muslims, but people cutting across religions had come out on streets against the CAA.
Eventhough everybody has got several identities, there is one big identity that "we all are Indians." The Constitution proclaims equality and ensures equal justice, opportunity, rights and status to all. But, CAA destroys this, he said.
"If the Constitution goes, they (BJP-NDA government) will introduce Hindutva Rashtra, which is nothing but sanathana dharma and Manu Smritihi... The country would be taken back 100 years, he alleged.
In such a situation "the most powerful class would rule us. Not only Muslims but all other backward classes... all other OBCs especially dalits and tribals would be subjugated..
We should never allow this," he said.
The rally, which began from Martyr's column, was led by KPCC President, Mullapally Ramachandran, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala, besides Chidambaram.
Hundreds of party workers, including MPs and MLAs are among those who participated.
The rally was being held as part of the "Save The Constitution-Save India" campaign of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in Kerala here.
According to CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there, would not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.
The Act said refugees of the six communities would be given Indian citizenship after residing in India for five years, instead of 11 earlier.
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No 'jealousy' against Vijay, meeting with Stalin was friendship call, says Rajini
Chennai (PTI): Superstar Rajinikanth on Sunday denied he was "jealous" about Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and clarified that his recent meeting with DMK president M K Stalin was "purely" a friendship call and not done with any political motive.
Talking to reporters at his Poes Garden residence here, and responding to some reports, the top star made it clear that the meeting with the former chief minister Stalin was not an attempt to hinder Vijay's chief ministerial aspirations or merge political parties.
Dismissing that he had any envy towards TVK founder and chief minister Vijay, the "Jailer" star said there was a 25-year generational gap between him and the CM and commended Vijay's impressive achievements at a young age, which he said surpassed even those of the legendary MGR (MG Ramachandran) and NTR (N T Rama Rao). MGR and NTR, the two matinee idols from Tamil and Telugu cinema had gone on to become CM of Tamil Nadu and the then undivided Andhra Pradesh, respectively.
"I have seen Vijay since a young age. Why would I be jealous if he had become CM. That too at a young age of 52, he has achieved more than MGR and NTR... I have no envy at all," he added.
Rajinikanth also congratulated Vijay, whose TVK won 108 seats to form government after getting support from Congress, VCK, Left parties and IUML after the April 23 elections defeating Dravidian majors -- DMK and AIADMK.
The superstar further said that he did not enter politics due to health reasons and advised his fans to support any political party of their choice.
Rajinikanth also urged the people to grant Vijay a two-year period to establish himself.
