Politics

Arvind Kejriwal Reacts to Refugee Protest Over CAA Remark: ‘They Should Be in Jail

Chief Minister of Delhi and national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Arvind Kejriwal, unleashed a vicious attack on refugees from Bangladesh and Pakistan on Friday, accusing them of being behind the protests that were started by the opposition politicians’ remarks criticizing the CAA. “These Pakistanis’ bravery? Initially, they violated our laws by breaking into our country illegally. They ought to have been incarcerated. In a post on X, he asked, “Have they got so much courage that they are protesting and creating ruckus in our country?”

The AAP representative went on to level further criticism at the BJP, claiming that the party is driving the country into crisis out of a self-serving desire to increase its voter base. “Pakistanis and Bangladeshis will proliferate throughout the nation and terrorize citizens after CAA. The BJP is putting the entire nation in danger out of a self-serving desire to increase their electoral base,” he continued.

Kejriwal also questioned the sincerity of the refugees’ demands for an apology from a leader (referring to himself) who was elected by a sizable majority of Delhi’s citizens earlier on Thursday in response to their protests against the former’s remarks on the CAA. A few Pakistanis made a commotion outside my house today. The Delhi Police took care of them and treated them with the utmost respect. They had the full support of the BJP, too. How could they travel to our nation and demand an apology from a chief minister who was duly elected by the people of Delhi? And the BJP’s backing for them [the refugees]?” he questioned.

During their demonstration in Delhi against the India bloc and Congress leaders over their statements regarding the execution of CAA, a large number of refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh broke through barricades. The opposition leaders have questioned the administration over the timing of the action ever since the center announced the implementation of the CAA guidelines.

Also Read: Supreme Court to Hear Pleas Seeking Stay on CAA Rules on March 19

The chief minister of Delhi stated that more migration will occur than it did during independence as a result of the CAA regulations going into effect. He added that there will be a breakdown in law and order, which will increase theft, robberies, and rapes. Introduced by the BJP-led union government and approved by Parliament in 2019, the CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim migrants who have been persecuted and who came to India before December 31, 2014, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians.