Lucknow, January 22: After Congress leader Kapil Sibal and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Wednesday also accepted Amit Shah’s challenge for a debate on contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Mayawati said that her party is ready for a debate on the act at any forum. Kapil Sibal Says Problematic for States to Oppose CAA if Supreme Court Declares It 'Constitutional'.

The BSP supremo took to Twitter to hit out at the Central government. In a tweet, she said, “The Centre which is disturbed as the entire country, especially the youth and women have come together against the controversial CAA, has challenged the opposition for a debate.” She further added, “The BSP accepts the challenge to debate on it at any forum and at any place.”

Mayawati's Tweet:

Earlier in the day, Sibal made a counter challenge to the Union Home Minister to debate on the act. Challenging the Union Home Minister for an open debate of CAA, Sibal said, as quoted by CNN News 18, "I openly challenge the Home Ministry and the PM to debate me on the issue being faced by the country. Let them be on one side and me on the other, let them choose the time and place."

Similarly, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief, responding to Shah’s challenge for a debate on the act, said the Home Minister should debate with him instead of opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav. Addressing a gathering in Karimnagar, the Lok Sabha MP said, “You should debate with me. I am here. Why debate with them? The debate should be with a bearded man. I can debate with them on CAA, NPR and NRC.” Citizenship Amendment Act Won't Be Withdrawn, No Matter Who Protests, Says Amit Shah in Lucknow.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had on Tuesday attended a BJP party event in Lucknow where he said that the Opposition is spreading rumours about the CAA. "I have come to you for a Jan Jagaran Abhiyan in Lucknow. Our government is hardly 8 months old but we are conducting this campaign to dispell the falsities being spread by the opposition against CAA. I challenge Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and Akhilesh Yadav to engage in a debate on CAA," he said.

According to the CAA, passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2019, and got assent for President Ram Nath Kovind a day later, grants citizenship to people belonging from communities of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 22, 2020 06:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).