As the protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have been long-simmering in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Chennai, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called on ADMK Ministers Jayakumar and Thangamani directly to Delhi and inquired about the on-going protests in the state. While there are notions that have been aired in the secretariat which say the Home Minister has passed some orders to the Tamil Nadu ministers, we reached out to our sources to learn what has been the developments.

Our sources say that the on-going protests in Chennai's Washermenpet are shaping the city as another Shaheen Bagh as the protests have been added to the line of uncertainties and headaches for the ruling ADMK government. Edappadi Palaniswami would be rolling out the National Population Register (NPR) on April 1st, 2020. However, the Muslim outfits and the opposition parties have been urging the ADMK government to adopt the anti-CAA, NRC, and NPR resolution in the assembly to revoke the implementation in the state. The parties would press the government to pass the resolution in the assembly that resumes its budget session on March 9th, 2020.

With the view of countering the protests against the CAA, the BJP members have also staged pro-CAA demonstrations in various parts of the state that had led the state intelligence department to issue a warning that the agitations would cause law and order issue. Our sources stated that Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy had discussed with Deputy Chief Minister Panneerselvam and senior ministers concerning the intelligence inputs. Some of the ministers had divulged to adopt the anti-CAA resolution while others stated that they must reach out to Delhi for further movements. By having two different opinions, the ministers had decided to meet Amit Shah. While they reached Delhi to fix an appointment with the Home Minister, they got a response stating that the Home Minister himself has planned to meet the ministers and MHA has asked the ministers to come to Delhi.

After having the appointment, Edappadi Palaniswami has sent senior ministers Jayakumar and Thangamani to Delhi on March 2nd to meet the Home Minister. When we inquired about the meet with Delhi sources, they say that Home Minister Amit Shah had discussed with the ADMK ministers by having the Central Intelligence report. He said that the ADMK government can't able to contain the protests in Chennai even after Prime Minister Modi has avowed that the act will not be taken back and assured that no Muslim will be affected by the act. In response, the ADMK Ministers had disclosed the steps taken by the state government to lower the protests. By highlighting the intelligence report, Amit Shah said that the ADMK government supports the protests in Tamil Nadu and stated that the intelligence inputs divulged the ADMK government has nodded for the protests and asked the protesters not to voice against the state government. 

Our sources reveal that Amit Shah slashed senior state ministers by asking why the state government is playing a double game. By rebutting his statement, ADMK Ministers said that the protesters are approaching the court to get consent to protest if the state government refuses the permission and the Ministers requested Amit Shah to look for the ways to re-consider the amendment for which the Home Minister professed that the act is the policy matter of the Central government and it has been consented by the President and warned the state ministers to contain the protests in Chennai.

While the senior ministers were at Delhi to meet Amit Shah, BJP's Muralidhar Rao has met with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palanswami in Chennai and during the meet, Rao has expressed the orders from Amit Shah to bring the protests to an end. During the meet with Amit Shah in Delhi, the state ministers also discussed with him towards getting a cabinet ministerial berth in Modi's cabinet as it has largely been anticipated that Modi would reshuffle his cabinet after the conclusion of current Parliamentary session. Amit Shah told the ministers to take a concrete decision on CAA and Prime Minister Modi would decide about the ministerial berth.

Our sources have stated that Pannerselvam is trying hard to have a ministerial berth for his son, the only ADMK MP in Lok Sabha while former minister Vaidhyalingam has also been eyeing for the cabinet minister post and he has lobbying through Edappadi Palaniswami. However, Edappadi thinks that the BJP alliance is not necessary for 2021 elections and if ADMK gets Central Ministerial berth, then it would carry BJP in its alliance. By citing that, Edappadi Palaniswami is not willing to get a berth in the Modi's cabinet.