Maharastra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday questioned the BJP’s campaign in schools to teach students about the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a criticism dismissed by the opposition party as “dirty politics”.

The young Shiv Sena leader tweeted a day after a few BJP leaders visited a school in Mumbai’s Matunga area to “spread awareness and correct misinformation” about the law, which has sparked protests across the country.

The BJP had organised a talk at Dayan and Balak Vidyalaya on Bhimani street from 10am to 11 am on Friday for students of Classes 8, 9 and 10.

The newly-appointed environment, tourism and protocol minister also suggested what the Bharatiya Janata Party or any other political leader should do to contribute towards students’ education.“To campaign abt an Act in schools is ridiculous. What is the need for such political campaigning justification, if there is no ill intent? Politicisation of schools mustn’t be tolerated. If politicians want to speak in schools, speak on gender equality,helmets, cleanliness!” Aaditya Thackeray tweeted.His party had supported theCitizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha but took a sharp U-turn in theRajya Sabha by abstaining from voting for the new law when it was presented inParliament in December last year.

The BJP’s spokesperson Madhav Bhandari accused Thackeray andothers of “playing dirty politics” over the act.

“CAA is not a political thing. These people are trying topoliticise a national issue that should have remained out of dirty politics.They are playing dirty politics. CAA is a national duty. Each and every nationloving person should join this campaign,” Bhandari said.“We have launched acampaign in the entire nation. We are reaching person to person,” he added.

Facing protests across the country, the BJP is pulling outall stops to dispel doubts about the provisions of CAA and has started a door-to-door campaign that will reach out to three crore families to clear perceptions about the act.

The BJP has asked every member of the party to personally reach at least 10 citizens of the country and create awareness about CAA.