Opposition leaders on Tuesday knocked on the doors of President Ram Nath Kovind, seeking his intervention in repealing the "unconstitutional and divisive" citizenship amendment law and forming a commission of enquiry to probe violent protests and the police action.
Amidst protests against the law in parts of the country, a delegation of leaders of a dozen opposition parties, led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, submitted a memorandum to the president appealing to him to "advise" the government to withdraw the legislation and "safeguard our Constitution from being violated".
Talking to reporters later, Gandhi alleged the Modi government was "shutting down" people's voices and bringing legislations which are not acceptable to them.
"...(we) met the President to plead with him to intervene in the situation in the Northeast, which is now spreading throughout the country...because of the Act. It is a very serious situation. We fear that it may spread even further. We are anguished at the manner in which the police have dealt with peaceful demonstrations across India," she said.
"I think you all have seen that the BJP government...seems to have no compulsion when it comes to shutting down people's voices and implement a legislation, which do not seem to be acceptable to the people and to us in a democracy," she said.
She said police personnel entered women's hostels in Jamia Millia Islamia and "mercilessly" beat up students who were demonstrating, which is their democratic right.
More From This Section
CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury said the President was the custodian of the Constitution.
"We have said that he cannot allow his government to violate the Constitution in this brazen manner. We urged him to give his advice to the government to withdraw this law," he told reporters.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "We have asked the President to please advise the government to withdraw this diabolical, divisive act. There is an upheaval all over the country... This act will affect the poorest of the poor."
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that certain groups with vested interests are trying to create disturbance and helping Pakistan, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "We challenge the prime minister to have a debate with us. I challenge him for a one-on-one debate... It is they who have sympathies with Pakistan and accuse the opposition (of it). We challenge him for a debate."
Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said, "We have urged the President that the fears expressed by us in Parliament during the passage of the bill are proving right. This is a law that is taking the country towards its division. The CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) has put fear in the minds of the people and it will have bad results. Our government is giving an opportunity to break the country."
IUML's Mohammed Bashir said, "We have explained (to the president) the sorrows and anxiety of the people of the country. We appealed to him to give justice to us."
In the memorandum to the president, the parties said,"We appeal to you to safeguard our Constitution from being violated. We urge you to intervene on the matter and advise the government to immediately withdraw (Repeal) the Citizenship Amendment act."
"The prime minister, instead of appealing for calm, made a comment, which is inconsistent with the status of the office he holds. He said that the rioters could be 'identified from their clothes'. By any standard, this brand of politics is unjustified. If persons holding the highest offices in the country seek to, through their statements, serve narrow sectarian interests, it would dismantle the constitutional edifice that has been so carefully built since Independence."