Modi attacks Congress for opposing CAA, Constitution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hit out at the Congress for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said that the Congress was opposing the Constitution.

Speaking at Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, Modi said: “Our government brought CAA, but Congress has opposed it. These people have started agitation against Constitution.”

“They are opposing entry of Dalits and other persecuted people from Pakistan. The atrocities against minorities have been rising in Pakistan. Pakistanis have unleashed injustices against the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains but Congress hasn’t raised its voice.”

While attacking the Congress, Modi said: “They don’t have the time or intention to take on Pakistan. It’s our duty to stand by those who are fleeing Pakistan. It’s our duty to help them.”

The Congress has slammed Modi on his speech where he accused Congress of fomenting trouble during anti-Citizenship protests.

Reacting sharply to the allegation, the Congress said, “ Modi ji, this agitation is not against the Parliament but against your divisive work. We will not let you break the country.

“So far as Pakistan is concerned, India taught them lessons in 1948, 65, 71 and in Kargil and gave so much wound that they are not being able to cope with it. If you want to reply to Pakistan, stop playing games of Biryani and mangoes.”

Modi attacked the Congress party and those who are protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, questioning why they are not exposing Pakistan.

“Pakistan was formed on the basis of religion, religious minorities were being persecuted there. The persecuted were forced to come to India as refugees.

“But Congress and its allies don’t speak against Pakistan, instead they are taking out rallies against these refugees,” PM Modi said in Karnataka’s Tumakuru on Thursday.

“Today, every countryman has a question that those who have come here from Pakistan to save their lives, to save the lives of their daughters, processions are being taken out against them, but why are these people silent on Pakistan which has committed atrocities against these people?” he added.

The Prime Minister is in Karnataka on a two-day visit where he will take part in various programmes.

“If you have to raise slogans, do it to highlight the way minorities are being tortured in Pakistan. If you have to take out a procession, do it in support of exploited Hindu minorities who have come to India from Pakistan,” he said at the event at Sree Siddaganga Mutt.

He also exhorted those who are against the CAA to expose Pakistan at international level. “If you have to agitate, raise your voice against the exploits of Pakistan in the last 70 years,” PM Modi said.

In the evening, the Prime Minister will visit the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility to dedicate five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation.

He will stay at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

On Friday, Modi will inaugurate the 107th Indian Science Congress at the University of Agriculture Science in Bengaluru.

The Varanasi court of Additional Session Judge S. K. Pandey has granted bail to 57 of the 59 protesters, including the parents of a 14-month-old baby girl, who were arrested during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests.

The court ordered for the release of each applicant on the submission of two bonds of Rs 25,000 each. Out of 59 arrested protesters, 57 had applied for the bail. The arrested persons will be released on Thursday after completion of formalities.

The case of arrest of Ravi Shekhar and his wife Ekta, who run an NGO, was raised by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Lucknow last week since the couple has a 14-month-old baby, who was being looked after by neighbours after they were arrested.

The protesters were arrested from the Chetganj area while marching to the Benia Bagh ground for holding the anti-CAA meeting on December 19.

Varanasi had witnessed anti-CAA protests on December 19 and 20. On December 19 protesters, including activists of CPI, CPM, other organisations and also 19 Banaras Hindu University students were arrested from the Chetganj area.

Indo-Asian News Service