CAA: What explains AAP’s strident opposition

“Will much sought-after government jobs be given to Pakistanis … will limited resources of the country be used on two crore Pakistanis, Afghans and Bangladeshis?”

As the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was notified last week, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal — who was arrested in the Delhi liquor policy case on Thursday night — raised these questions in a video address, framing a critique of the law centred around unemployment, social security, and law and order. The law grants citizenship to undocumented, non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered the country before December 31, 2014.

For many, Kejriwal’s stand was a surprise since the AAP has been trying to counter BJP’s ideology with its brand of “soft Hindutva” – with a Ram-Rajya Budget, Teerth Yatra scheme, and Sundarkand recitals across the national Capital.

When a group of Pakistani Hindus from the refugee camp in Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tila protested near his Civil Lines home on March 14, Kejriwal posted on X, “These Pakistanis dare to protest? First, they infiltrated our country illegally and broke the laws of our country. They should have been in jail. They dare to protest and create ruckus in our country? After CAA, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis will spread across the country and harass people. In the selfish interest of making them their vote bank, the BJP is pushing the entire country into trouble.”

Kejriwal’s stand had the BJP questioning his humanity and empathy, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah asking him to spend time with the families of refugees who suffered through Partition. Over the years, BJP leaders have promised the Pakistani Hindu refugees citizenship several times.

If others in the AAP are