CM: No major protest against CAA in TN, issue unlikely to reflect in civic polls

Talking to reporters here, he said there was no compulsion for the AIADMK to back the CAA which Home Minister Amit Shah has made clear in Parliament that will not affect Indian citizens.  He also said that there have been no big protests in Tamil Nadu against the CAA and the issue will have no impact on the coming panchayat elections.

“Even the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa had urged the Prime Minister to confer dual citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamils.  I have also demanded the same when I met the Prime Minister.  Even today, we have stressed upon the demand,” Palaniswami told reporters after attending the second national meeting convened by President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss steps relating to the on-going 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi. 

He said the state government was giving an additional Rs 600 as assistance to the the Sri Lankan Tamils over and above Rs 400 given by the Centre.  In fact, all the social welfare schemes of the state were applicable to them, he added. Palaniswami is believed to have met the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the meeting. 

The AIADMK has been under attack from Opposition parties for having taken a “subservient” stand by supporting the CAA and also ignoring the interests of Sri Lankan Tamils who do not qualify for citizenship status under the CAA.

Replying to questions, he said in Tamil Nadu there have been some protests in some places against CAA and the protesters dispersed peacefully.  In a democratic country, everyone has a right to protest on issues, he added. “I have said clearly the Opposition is deliberately instigating protests on trumped up charges on the issue of CAA.  The CAA does not impact Indian citizens.  Home Minister Amit Shah has said so.  If there is going to be no impact on Indian citizens, then how can we stop if they deliberately want to stage protests,” he asked.

When asked whether the CAA protests would affect the panchayat polls, the Chief Minister said it will have no impact. On the contempt petitions filed by the DMK in the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister said it was between the SEC and the SC, government has nothing to do with it.