Maharashtra likely to join states opposing CAA, indicates Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra will most likely join the league of states opposing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), with Home Minister Eknath Shinde saying on Friday that the final decision will be taken after consultation with allies.

Addressing a press conference here, the state Home Minister said that Chief Minister Udhhav Thackeray will take the final decision on the Act after consulting with other parties of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

"Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act after consulting with alliance partners," Shinde said.

He further said, "People of all castes and religions live in this state. All of them should feel that this government is theirs. Our government will continue to maintain a free atmosphere and see that law and order is maintained."

The Shiv Sena leader further said that the Chief Minister will take the decision in the interest of the state.

Apart from Shiv Sena, the Aghadi consists of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

While Shiv Sena supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha and staged a walkout during voting on the Bill in Rajya Sabha, the other two parties vehemently opposed the legislation terming it against the spirit of the Constitution.

Nitin Rawat and Balasaheb Thorat, two Congress members in Maharashtra Cabinet, have already said that the party would take the line adopted by the central leadership.

"We will follow the policy of our party's central leadership," Thorat told reporters here on being asked if Maharashtra will implement the Act.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, was passed by Parliament earlier this week and became an Act after getting the President's assent on Thursday.

Chief Ministers of Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala have already vowed not to let the Act implemented in their respective states.