Citizenship Act, NRC have nothing to do with Indian citizens: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally at Ram Leela Maidan in New Delhi on Sunday. (UNI)
NEW DELHI, DEC 22 (UNI):- Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a rally at Ram Leela Maidan, in New Delhi on Sunday. UNI PHOTO-DK3U

PM questions Oppn silence on 2004 Women Law in J&K

Law doesn’t snatch anybody’s rights; Oppn dividing country

Hopes those carrying tricolor will raise voice against terror

 

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the Citizenship Law and National Register of Citizens (NRC) have nothing to do with Indian citizens and slammed the Opposition parties for “inciting people” and trying to divide the country in their bid to target him.
Addressing mammoth rally at New Delhi’s historic Ram Leela Grounds in New Delhi followed by series of tweets, Modi put up strong defence of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed recently by the Parliament leading to massive protests in different parts of the country, saying the law was about giving rights to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries and doesn’t snatch anybody’s rights.
“The Citizenship Amendment Act or the NRC have nothing to do with Indian Muslims. They have nothing to worry. The Congress, its allies and Urban Naxals are spreading the rumour that Muslims will be sent to detention centres,” he said and made it clear that the Citizenship Law has nothing to do with Indian citizens.
He said lies were being spread about the NRC and asserted that the previous Congress Government had mooted it. “Our Government hasn’t discussed it so far either in Parliament or in Cabinet”.
Speaking strongly against violence during the recent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Prime Minister attacked the Opposition for not making any appeal for peace and said their silence (on the protests) showed their indirect support to vandalism targeting school buses and trains.
Modi also referred to proposed controversial law in Jammu and Kashmir in 2004 (which had been introduced by the then PDP-Congress coalition Government) which would have deprived the women of the State’s citizenship for marrying an outsider.
“Aaj Jo Partiyaan Shor Macha Rahi Hain, Who 2004 Mein Kahan Thi Jab Wahan Ki Sarkaar Ne Kaha Ki Rajya Se Bahar Ke Nivasi Se Shadi Karne Par Jammu-Kashmir Ki Betiyon Ki Wahan Ki Nagrikta Khatam Ho Jayegi (Where were these parties which are creating uproar today when Jammu and Kashmir Government had in 2004 stated that the women will lose citizenship for marrying an outsider)?” the Prime Minister asked.
“Kya Woh Bedbhaav Bharat Ke Sambidhan Ki Spirit Ke Anusaar Tha (whether that discrimination was within the spirit of Constitution)”? he further asked.
Referring to the protests against Citizenship Law in different parts of the country, Modi said he was fully confident that the tricolor in the hands of people will encourage them to also raise their voice against Pakistan sponsored terrorism.
“Picking up tricolor is our right. But the tricolor in hands also comes with responsibilities,” he asserted.
“I’m fully confident that the tricolor in the hands (of protesters) will also encourage them to raise their voice against those spreading violence…those who have taken weapons in their hands and those who were indulging in terror attacks,” the Prime Minister said, adding that when the tricolor comes in one’s hands, he can never support violence, separatism and politics of division.
PTI adds:- The Citizenship Law has, in fact, nothing to do with Indian citizens, Modi said and asked people to stand up to pay tribute to Parliament and lawmakers for its passage.
Modi used the big rally, held to “thank him” for the Centre’s decision to give ownership rights to residents of unauthorised colonies in poll-bound Delhi, to counter criticism over the Citizenship Amendment Act as he condemned incidents of violence during the protests, lauded the police and slammed Pakistan for discrimination against minorities.
In a relentless attack on the opposition during his nearly 100-minute speech, he said it was still reeling from the shock of his return to power in June and is resorting to divide and rule politics to target him.
Targeting the Congress, AAP, TMC and the Left, he said India had an opportunity to expose Pakistan’s discrimination against minorities but it was lost due to their politics and accused these parties of working to “defame” India globally.
Starting his speech with the slogan of ‘vividhta me ekta, Bharat ki visheshta’ (Unity in diversity is India’s speciality), he said his Government never considered whether beneficiaries of its schemes went to temple or mosque.
He asked Muslims to look at his “track record” and not listen to “tape record” of his rivals.
“Did we ask anybody’s religion or caste when our Government gave LPG cylinders to eight crore families? We never asked people’s religion when giving homes to the poor during the last five years.
“I want to know from the Congress, its allies and others who are dividing the country over the issue as to why they are resorting to such lies…. They have conspired to push not only Delhi but also other parts of the country into chaos and fear,” he said, asking youths to read the law’s provisions.
He also hit out at the Chief Ministers who have claimed that they will not implement the Amended Citizenship Law in their States, saying they should have first consulted their legal officers.
The Central Government has maintained that the Constitution makes it binding on States to implement the law passed by Parliament.
In a clear justification of having a nationwide National Register of Citizens, Modi said infiltrators never “reveal” themselves unlike refugees who never “hide” their identities.
Praising the police, which has faced criticism from some quarters for allegedly using excessive force against protestors, the Prime Minister said they have always helped people and noted that over 33,000 of them have sacrificed their lives in duty since independence.
Police did not rescue people from Anaj Mandi fire by asking their religion, he said.
Several protesters in States like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Assam have died in alleged police firing.
Modi said his rivals can burn his effigy and thrash it with shoes if they wish so, but they should not target the assets of the poor.
He also quoted comments of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in support of giving citizenship rights to these persecuted minorities and said the Congress changed its stand due to vote bank politics.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi as saying that India should give shelter to persecuted Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan, the Prime Minister said the law is in line with his sentiments.
Those who try to benefit from ‘Gandhi’ surname should read what he had said, Modi said in a clear dig at the ruling family of the Congress.
Opposition parties do not want to distinguish between infiltrators and those who took refuge in India due to persecution, he said.
Modi spoke about the “support” he had received from Muslim countries and the highest civilian honour bestowed on him by many of them to assert that it has “scared” the Congress and its friends.
“They are worried if Muslims across the world support me so much, then how long they can frighten Indian Muslims (against me),” he said.
India’s relations with Bangladesh had deepened under his Government, Modi said.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister had recently cancelled a visit to India, citing his busy schedule.
Modi said everything is being done to remove him by his rivals, adding that efforts have been made for over 20 years to target him but these never succeeded.
He said most beneficiaries of the amended law were Dalits and took a jibe at Dalit leader Chandra Shekhar Aazad over his participation in a protest rally in the old Delhi. Aazad was later arrested.
Referring to the protests, Modi said he was pained when he saw stones in hands of protestors but was also comforted when he saw some of them holding the tricolour.
“Now that they are carrying the tricolour, they will also speak against those carrying guns or speaking in support of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism,” he said.

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