Did Centre implement CAA to increase BJP's vote bank? asks Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 13 slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government over the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo asked whether the new rules were brought to increase vote bank of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming years. 

“By settling refugees from three countries in different parts of India, I am told, BJP wants to increase its vote bank. It may not happen in this election, but in elections after 2024. I am not too sure. But this is what I have been told," Kejriwal said addressing a press conference on Wednesday

The Home Ministry on March 11 the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act's (CAA) rules.

“The BJP can't provide jobs to our children but they want to give jobs to children from Pakistan," he said.

The law paves the way for Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Parsi refugees, who came to India before December, 31 2014, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan to acquire Indian citizenship without having a valid passport of these countries or an Indian visa.

Kejriwal claimed that more than 11 lakh industrialist got fed up of Centre's policies and left the country. Instead, he said, of bringing them back, the Centre  wants poor from neighbouring states to settle here. 

The was passed in Parliament in December 2019. The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on December 9 while the Rajya Sabha passed it on December 11.

“Instead of solving these real issues, these people have brought the CAA. People will reply to it in the Lok Sabha election," Kejriwal said. 

(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)