AIADMK embarrasses ally BJP with drop CAA demand in Tamil Nadu manifesto

In an embarrassment for the Bharatiya Janata Party, its alliance partner in poll-bound Tamil Nadu -- the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam -- has stated that it will demand that the Centre drops the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act.

The promise finds a mention in the 163-point AIADMK manifesto which was released on Sunday ahead of the April 6 election.

The AIADMK poll promise has put BJP in a spot of bother with some leaders slamming the ally for not consulting it on the matter.

Ironically, the Citizenship Amendment Act is the only issue that AIADMK and its rival -- Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam -- have in common.

The BJP has categorically announced that it will not roll back the controversial law, which had triggered protests across the country especially among the minority community.

In fact, on Sunday, the BJP sent out a reminder to the AIADMK that there will be no rethink on the issue.

Targeting the DMK, CT Ravi, the BJP national general secretary in-charge of Goa, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, said: "DMK owner MK Stalin says that his party will continue to fight against the CAA. Why is Stalin opposing a law that would provide citizenship to oppressed Hindus, Sikhs and Christians from Pakistan and other nations? Stalin or anyone else can oppose it, the CAA will not be scrapped."

"From 2004 to 2013, the DMK was in power at the Centre for nine years. What stopped DMK from giving Citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in camps in India? What was Stalin doing in those years? Was he so busy looting the nation that he forgot Tamil refugees," CT Ravi asked.