KERALA GUV READS ANTI-CAA PARA, BUT AFTER DISAGREEING

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan read out a reference to Kerala’s resolution opposing the controversial citizenship act in the state government’s vision document in the assembly on Wednesday, but made his reservations on the subject clear and pointed out that he only honoured the chief minister’s wish in what some constitutional experts described as a departure from practice. Khan has been at odds with the Left-ruled state government on the CAA.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan read out a reference to Kerala’s resolution opposing the controversial citizenship act in the state government’s vision document in the assembly on Wednesday, but made his reservations on the subject clear and pointed out that he only honoured the chief minister’s wish in what some constitutional experts described as a departure from practice.

Khan, who has been at odds with the Left-ruled state government on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, faced protests from a section of Opposition lawmakers who blocked his way and shouted slogans. Khan had to be escorted to the podium by security personnel inside the assembly hall.

“I am going to read this para [mentioning the anti-CAA resolution] because the honourable chief minister [Pinarayi Vijayan] wants me to read this, although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of the policy or programme,” Khan said midway into his speech.

On December 31, the Kerala assembly unanimously passed the resolution demanding the scrapping of CAA, becoming the first state in the country to do so. The Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan, and the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal have passed similar resolutions since. Kerala has also moved the Supreme Court against the Act.

Paragraph 18, which was at the centre of Wednesday’s discussion and read out by Khan in the assembly, said, “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”.

Khan has maintained that citizenship issues have to be dealt with by the Centre and that states have no power on the subject. He has expressed his dissatisfaction on the resolution, and also questioned Kerala’s move to approach the top court. In his speech, Khan said: “Strong states and strong Centre are pillars of our federalism.