New Delhi: Seeking quashing of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) for being unconstitutional, DMK told the Supreme Court that the Act destroys the basic fabric of secularism by discriminating on the basis of religion and also it is against the Tamil race for not bringing Tamil refugees within the ambit of the law.
In an affidavit filed by its organising secretary R S Bharati, the governing party of Tamil Nadu pleaded the apex court to quash the amendment, which has also been challenged by people from various walks of life.
“I respectfully submit that the Act introduces a completely new basis for the grant/non-grant of citizenship on the ground of religion which destroys the basis fabric of secularism. There is no reason as to why Muslims were altogether excluded even in six countries wherein they suffered persecution. . . I humbly submit that the Act is against Tamil race and keeps out similarly placed Tamils who are residing in Tamil Nadu from the purview of the Act," the affidavit said.
The party said the Act ignores the reality that for several decades, Tamil refugees settled in Tamil Nadu are deprived of fundamental rights and other rights due to non-citizenship and due to non-naturalisation and the Act does not provide for any reasons to exclude them.
It said the law ignores the reality of Tamil refugees who fled Sri Lanka to avoid persecution there and settled in Tamil Nadu. It questioned the Act for not bring religious persecution in Sri Lanka, within the ambit of the law.
