Veteran BJP leader Tathagata Roy has ignited a controversy by proposing a circumcision test to determine the religion of male individuals seeking citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). His comments have drawn sharp criticism from the Trinamool Congress, with party members condemning his remarks as dehumanizing and indicative of bigotry.
Roy defended his suggestion, citing past medical tests during college admissions, but the Trinamool Congress labeled his remarks as regressive and reflective of the BJP's toxic culture. Trinamool Congress leaders accused Roy of perpetuating religious discrimination and criticized him for suggesting such a metric for citizenship determination.
The CAA, which fast-tracks citizenship for immigrants from certain neighboring countries, has faced opposition from various quarters, including the Trinamool Congress, who deem it discriminatory for excluding Muslims.
Amid the backlash, Roy reiterated his stance, emphasizing the exclusion of Muslims from the CAA and suggesting that his proposal was warranted. He accused critics, particularly Muslims, of overreacting and suggested that many might seek to pass as non-Muslims to benefit from the law.
In response to the criticism, Roy accused the Trinamool Congress of spreading misinformation about those fleeing persecution in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has denounced the CAA as an election ploy and declared that her government would not implement it in the state.
