Mehbooba Mufti alleges CAA aims to sow religious divisions
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed concerns over implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). At a press conference in Srinagar, Mufti described the law as discriminatory against Muslims.
She accused the BJP of using the law to instigate tensions for political gains. Mufti pointed to recent incidents, such as the demolitions of mosques and searches for religious symbols. According to her, these aim to provoke Muslims into demonstrations, diverting attention from the party’s performance.
However, Mufti advised community members against taking the law into their own hands. She urged Muslims to challenge the CAA instead of mass protests legally. The PDP president said the BJP wants unrest on the streets, but Muslims should not give them this opportunity.
In her statements on social media as well, Mufti alleged the BJP still follows the two-nation theory of Hindus and Muslims. She charged that the CAA aims to divide people further along religious lines to further the party’s agenda.
NC’s Omar Abdullah echoed her views, expressing surprise at the timing of the CAA rules. With the election body’s announcement days before, Abdullah pointed out that the law singles out Muslims.
The Home Ministry notified the implementation process recently. Available online, the portal seeks basic details from eligible applicants without additional documents needed. However, critics argue that proper parliamentary procedures were not followed when framing these rules.
With over 100 deaths during anti-CAA protests, the law remains contentious. The BJP believes its use in upcoming Bengal elections can aid their rise in the state. As per official data, 1,414 non-Muslim minorities have received citizenship so far via this route.
