'Because CM Wants This': Kerala Guv Reads References On Anti-CAA Resolution In Assembly 'With Rider'

In a surprise move, Kerala Governor Mohammed Arif Khan on Wednesday read out the references on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resolution passed by the state assembly, while presenting his policy address of the Left government in the House. The governor, who has been at loggerheads with the government over the anti CAA resolution passed by the assembly, said though he has “reservations and disagreement” over the subject, he would read paragraph 18 of the policy address, to “honour” the Chief Minister’s wish.

Para 18 is regarding the anti CAA resolution.

“I am going to read this para (paragraph 18) because the Honourable Chief Minister wants me to read this, although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of the policy or programme,” he said.

Reading out the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said, “our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the constitution.

Pinarayi Vijayan slams Modi government

Pinarayi Vijayan slammed the Narendra Modi government over its controversial Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA and said that the 'whims and fancies' of the RSS, the ruling BJP’s ideological parent. He said that his government would uphold the values of the Constitution.

Addressing a massive anti-CAA rally, Vijayan made it clear that the Left-ruled state would never implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

"Many people had doubts when Kerala declared that we will not implement the CAA. We all need to understand that all laws of the country must be in accordance with the Constitution. If a law is ultra vires, it won't stand," he said.

"We are required to implement the matters concerned with the Constitution of the country and not the whims and fancies of the RSS," Vijayan said.