No withdrawal of CAA despite opposition’s protests: Amit Shah

No withdrawal of CAA despite opposition’s protests: HM Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Lucknow in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act. He made it clear that the law is intended to give citizenship to the persecuted people from three neighbouring countries and does not to take away anyone’s citizenship. Those opposing the CAA contend that it violates the Constitution and along with the NRC is intended to target the Muslims in India. The Home Minister pointed out that the objectives of the CAA had been supported by Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru among others.

BJP’s awareness campaign regarding the revised citizenship law continues. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in Lucknow on Tuesday. He addressed a rally in support of the new law, saying unambiguously that the CAA grants citizenship, and does not take away anyone’s citizenship. He also said that the CAA is a law of Parliament and is here to stay.

Amit Shah challenged the opposition parties to a debate on the CAA. He pointed out that the Congress Party’s manifesto for the assembly elections in Rajasthan a year and a half ago, had promised citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan adding that it is clear hypocrisy now, to oppose what was in its manifesto.

The Home Minister made it amply clear that there is no section in the CAA that takes away anyone’s citizenship, be they Muslims or people of any faith. Identifying the near extinction of minorities from Pakistan, Amit Shah noted that at the time of Partition, Hindus, Sikh Buddhists and Jains constituted 30 percent of the population of East Pakistan and 23 percent of Western Pakistan.

However minorities constitute on 7 percent in Bangladesh and a mere three percent in Pakistan. The others have either been killed, converted to Islam for forced to take refuge in India. Amit Shah made it clear that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Maulana Azad and Sardar Patel were all in support of granting citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs and minorities who were persecuted in Pakistan.

The Congress’ volte face shows it’s vision is blurred by vote bank politics. He reminded the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that her demand for citizenship of Dalit Bengalis is being granted through CAA.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also spoke at the rally. He also hit out at the vote bank politics of the opposition, which is only harming the country.