Leader of opposition of Assam Assembly challenges Citizenship Amendment Act in the Supreme Court

Guwahati: Leader of opposition of Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia alongwith MP Barpeta Abdul Khaleque and Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi have challenged the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Supreme Court.

The petition also highlighted, alleged contradictions in act with the provisions of Article 14, 21 as laid down in the constitution of India.

They drew the attention to the subjectivity related to the perception of persecuted minorities as laid down in the new act. The petition said that the act is an attempt to impose an ethos which is in total violation of the composite culture and age old liberal values of the Assamese society. According to the petitioners, the very idea of defining and granting citizenship on religious lines is an idea opposed to the very basic foundations of the country. The exclusion of minorities from the ambit of this Act is an attempt by the ruling Party to manipulate their majority in Parliament for petty political gains, the petition said.


This petition comes at the backdrop of the unrest in Assam due to the introduction and subsequent passage of the bill in both the houses. The petition seeks to take into account the sanctity of the greater Assamese Society, the historical evolution of which has been free of any religious discrimination , they contended .