Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said that the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be repealed during the first session of Parliament after the INDIA Bloc forms the government at the Centre.
Despite not being mentioned in the Congress manifesto, Chidambaram clarified that the intention of the party is to repeal the CAA, attributing its absence in the manifesto to length constraints.
Regarding criticisms from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M) about the absence of CAA opposition in the Congress manifesto, Chidambaram explained that Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor had voiced opposition to the CAA in Parliament. When questioned about the potential impact of the Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration on elections, Chidambaram expressed hope that it wouldn’t play a significant role, stating that the temple’s construction should conclude the matter and not influence political outcomes.
Chidambaram also addressed national border security concerns, alleging that the BJP government concealed the truth about Chinese occupation of Indian land. He criticized the BJP-led NDA government, branding it as a cult that reveres Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and highlighted what he perceived as a “grave erosion” of freedom of speech and expression during Modi’s tenure.
Expressing concerns about the future of democracy, Chidambaram warned against the potential for constitutional amendments if Modi secure a third term. He urged the public to prioritize the restoration of democracy and criticized Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan for focusing on local politics instead of recognizing the national scope of the elections.
Chidambaram said, if Modi elected for the third time as a PM, he may not be able conduct press conference like this again, and reporters may not be able to ask questions to BJP leaders. He said Modi’s reelection may pose a threat to Indian democracy.
