Amit Shah’s challenge for CAA debate finds prompt response; Mayawati, Owaisi accept the challenge

A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah challenged the opposition for a public discussion on the discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act, BSP supremo Mayawati accepted Shah’s challenge for a debate “at any forum and at any place.”

“The government, disturbed by protests against the controversial CAA/NRC/NPR, by the entire country, especially the youth and women, has challenged the Opposition to debate on the matter. The BSP accepts the challenge to debate on it at any forum and at any place,” Mayawati tweeted.

Addressing a rally in Lucknow in support of the CAA, Amit Shah reiterated that the government will not withdraw the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, challenging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal chief minister Mamta Banerjee and Mayawati for a discussion on the Act “in a public forum”.

This challenge by the Home Minister was first promptly responded by Chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Asaduddin Owaisi when he dared the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to a face-off on the Citizenship Amendment Act.

ANI quoted Owaisi saying, "You should debate with me. I am here. Why debate with them? The debate should be with a bearded man. I can debate with them on CAA, NPR (National Population Register) and NRC (National Register of Citizens)."

The CAA and the NRC have been critised for being partial against the Muslim community. Whilst the CAA promises citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, the NRC intends to identify undocumented immigrants who came to India after a specified date.

With inputs from IANS