Bengaluru: The Congress is using the concept of ‘coalition dharma’ to prevail upon Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to prevail upon him to veer away from the CAA. 

Senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury said, “The Congress has voted against the CAA. We have great regard and respect for Mr Thackeray, but just a small nudge because he is new in the game, there is something as coalition dharma. Let us see if he will understand and appreciate that."

On NPR, this is what Uddhav Thackeray had to say: 

"If NRC is implemented then it will affect not only Hindus or Muslims but also Adivasis. The Centre has not discussed NRC as of now. NPR is a census, and I don't find that anyone will be affected as it happens every 10 years."

On the other hand, NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar said, “That is his (Uddhav Thackeray's) view and it is his right to have his own view. As far as NCP is concerned, we have voted against this act in the Parliament as well. Now, in this coalition government, we cannot promise that everyone will agree to the same thing. However, we will try to talk to them and convince them about the issue.”

The CAA passed by both houses of the Indian Parliament last year intends to give citizenship to persecuted minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have been living in India hitherto December 31, 2014. 

With this law, around 32000 people are expected to benefit in a big way. 

Though the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union home minister Amit Shah have repeatedly mentioned that the law doesn’t apply to Indian citizens, the opposition has consistently spread lies and misinformation about the law, with a view to instigate the minorities in India. 

Several states have also passed a resolution against the law.