MDA undecided on challenging CAA in court

SHILLONG: The NPP-led MDA government is yet to take a call on whether to go the Kerala way and challenge the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the court.
“We are yet to discuss this matter. But we also need to understand that the situation in the state is totally different compared to Kerala and other states of the country”, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Wednesday.
Pointing out that around 97 per cent of the state is already exempted from the purview of the CAA as these areas come under the Sixth Schedule, Tynsong said that the state government is now seeking exemption for the entire state.
“We cannot compare the situation here with the rest of the country,” Tynsong said.
The CAA is not applicable to areas under the Sixth Schedule or the Inner Line Permit regime.
NPP’s Tura Lok Sabha MP Agatha Sangma had voted for the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill to be enacted into CAA. However, differences persist among the ruling coalition partners.
It may be mentioned that the Kerala government on Tuesday became the first state to move the Supreme Court challenging the Act, which was notified on January 10.
The plea, filed under Article 131 of the Constitution on disputes between the Centre and states, said the Act violates the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution, right to life under Article 21, and freedom to practise religion under Article 25.
The move comes amid nationwide protests against the Act.