Won't budge an inch on CAA:Shah; Vijayan writes to 11 non-BJP CMs for united stand

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday declared that the Centre will not budge an inch on implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA) as the political acrimony over the new law grew intense with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was an "ambassador' of Pakistan.

As rallies for and against the controversial law continued in several parts of the country, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to 11 non-BJP chief ministers to follow the example of his state Assembly in passing a resolution demanding that the CAA be scrapped. The CPI-M veteran said there is a need for unity in the country to protect democracy and secularism.

Former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon also waded into the escalating row, saying the amendment of the Citizenship Act was government's "self-inflicted goal" which has "isolated" India and that the list of critical voices both at home and abroad is "pretty long".

Launching an "awareness programme" in Rajasthan in support of the CAA, Shah accused the Congress of misleading Muslims and challenged party leader Rahul Gandhi to a discussion if he has read the law.

"Rahul Baba if you have read the CAA then come to discuss it anywhere. And if you have not read it, I will translate it in Italian and send it you to read it."
"India is a big country with a rich culture and heritage. Why does the PM regularly compare our nation with Pakistan? Are you the prime minister of India or the ambassador of Pakistan?