Tamil actor Vijay, who is also the chief of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has come out strongly against the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 by the Centre. The controversial law, which grants Indian citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, has sparked outrage among various political leaders and citizens across the country.
In a statement released in Tamil, Vijay expressed his disapproval of the CAA, stating that it is not acceptable to implement such a law in a country where all citizens should live in social harmony. He also urged the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that the law does not get implemented in the southern state.
This marks Vijay’s first political opinion since he entered into politics and announced the formation of his party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazham, on February 2. His strong stance against the CAA aligns with the sentiments expressed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using the law to gain political mileage ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Stalin criticized the BJP government for weaponizing the Citizenship Act and turning it into a tool of discrimination based on religion and race. He alleged that the law betrayed Muslims and Sri Lankan Tamils and sowed seeds of division in the country. Despite opposition from democratic forces like the DMK, the CAA was passed with the support of the AIADMK, whom Stalin referred to as BJP’s “stooge”.
The timing of the implementation of the CAA has raised suspicions among political leaders like Vijay and Stalin, who believe that the BJP government is trying to salvage its sinking ship by enacting the law now. The backlash against the CAA continues to grow, with more voices joining the chorus of dissent against the controversial legislation.