Mayawati suspends MLA for supporting CAA

Bahujan Samajwadi Party chief Mayawati, who has been a vocal critic of the amended Citizenship Act, has suspended a party MLA for supporting the legislation amid widespread protests across the country.

New Delhi:Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday suspended party MLA Ramabai Parihar for supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Parihar represents the Patharia Assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh.

Mayawati said in a tweet: "BSP is a disciplined party and immediate action is taken against MP/MLA who practices indiscipline. Therefore, BSP MLA Ramabai Parihar from Patheria in MP has been suspended from the party for supporting CAA. She has also been banned from participating in the party program."

Mayawati also said on twitter that the MLA was warned against her pro-CAA stance earlier also.

The BSP has opposed the Act. Mayawati in her tweet also said: "While the BSP strongly opposed it, calling it divisive and unconstitutional and voted against it in Parliament. The party also gave a memorandum to the President about its withdrawal but MLA Parihar supported CAA. In the past, she had been warned to follow the party line several times."

Earlier, Mayawati had pointed out the dissent in the ruling NDA over the CAA and NRC and had tweeted last week: "Voice of dissent against the new CAA and NRC are now being raised in the Central government's NDA. Hence, the BSP demands that it should take back these decisions leaving stubbornness".