Tamil actor and leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Thalapathy Vijay, aimed at the centre on Monday following the implementation of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
The Centre announced the CAA 2019’s implementation, which made it possible for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to apply for citizenship four years after Parliament passed the law. With this, the Centre would now begin to award Indian nationality to non-Muslim migrants from the three nations who are under persecution.
A rough translation of his speech, which was made public in Tamil, read, “It is not acceptable to implement any law like the Indian Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 (CAA) in an environment where all citizens of the country live with social harmony.”
Additionally, Thalapathy Vijay asked the Tamil Nadu government to make sure the law is not enforced in the southern state.
“The leaders should ensure that this law does not get implemented in Tamil Nadu,” the statement continued.
Since he founded the party, Thalapathy Vijay has never held a political position before. Vijay declared the name of his political party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazham, on February 2.
According to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to “salvage his sinking ship” by announcing the CAA regulations ahead of the Lok Sabha elections to garner political capital.
MK Stalin claimed on social media that the BJP government’s “divisive agenda” had weaponized the Citizenship Act, turning it from a “beacon of humanity” to a “tool of discrimination” based on race and religion. He went on to say that it “betrayed” Muslims and Tamils in Sri Lanka, sowing “seeds of division.”
Stalin claimed that the AIADMK, the BJP’s “stooge,” helped pass the CAA despite strong resistance from democratic organisations like the DMK. He added that the BJP had put the law on hold until now out of fear of a popular response.