Chief Minister M K Stalin affirmed on Wednesday (31 January) that Tamil Nadu would steadfastly oppose the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) which he deemed prejudicial to Muslims and Sri Lankan Tamils, as reported by Deccan Herald.

Stalin’s declaration came in response to Union Minister of State Santanu Thakur’s assertion that the legislation would be enforced nationwide within seven days.

Stalin assured the public, stating, “I give an assurance (to the people) that we won’t let the Citizenship (Amendment) Act set foot in Tamil Nadu.”

He emphasised that the bill would not have become law if the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) had not supported it in the Rajya Sabha.

Reacting to Thakur’s comments about the CAA’s imminent implementation, Stalin, currently on an official visit to Spain, highlighted the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)’s opposition efforts.

He mentioned that despite being in the opposition, the DMK organised significant protests against the Act in Tamil Nadu, collecting two crore signatures in protest, which were subsequently submitted to the President of India.

He also stated, “As soon as we came to power in 2021, we passed a resolution in the assembly demanding the withdrawal of CAA. The DMK government will never allow the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Tamil Nadu.”

Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of undermining religious harmony in the country, Stalin remarked that the public is closely observing the government’s disruptive activities and the AIADMK’s questionable support for such actions.