Joining the battle against the Citizenship Amendment Act, NCP chief Sharad Pawarhas said that like eight other states, Maharashtra should also refuse implementationof the new citizenship law, which he feared would hurt the religious and social harmony of India.

“Not just minorities, but those who think about country’s unity and progress are opposing CAA and NRC (National Register of Citizens). CAA and NRC are attempts to divert attention from serious issues the country is facing,” Sharad Pawar said.

Dubbing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) “ploys” by the Centre to “divert attention” from serious issues plaguing the country, Pawar expressed apprehension that the Centre might dismiss the state governments opposing the new citizenship law.

The minister further questioned why only migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are allowed citizenship under the new Act but not Sri Lankan Tamils.

Meanwhile, Pawar also sought a fresh probe into the Elgar Parishad case where Pune policeand named several activists and lawyers as the prime accusedinto the Bhima Koregaon violence,nearly two years after conducting investigations.

Terming the arrest of activists “wrong” and “vengeful”, Pawar demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up to probe the action taken by the Pune police.

Speaking at a press conference in Pune, Pawar said, “The arrest of the activists is infringement and calls for the suspension of Pune police chief K Venkatesham and other officers involved in the probe. We will be asking the Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to form an SIT to investigate Elgaar Parishad case properly. The police have misused their powers while imposing the Sedition Act.”