Even as the opposition parties continued to misinform and mislead the entire nation on the Citizenship Amendment Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a stinging attack on the opposition. Going hammer and tongs against the opposition, he has exposed the opposition on the issue on two consecutive days, firstly during an interview to ABP News, and then during a rally at Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Speaking at the rally, Union Home Minister Shah made it crystal clear that the BJP won’t budge an inch on the decision to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act, even if all the opposition parties come together. He said, “Even if all these parties come together, BJP will not move back even an inch on this issue of Citizenship Amendment Act. You can spread as much misinformation as you want.”
He also took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi and said, “Rahul Baba, if you have read the law please come anywhere for a debate on it. If you haven’t read the law, I can help you with an Italian translation of it, please read the law.” This declaration by Shah of not moving back by an inch came a day after his interview to ABP news, where he elaborately and lucidly discussed the CAA and the violence surrounding the Amendment legislation.
Even during his interview to ABP News, Shah had exposed the opposition parties over the anti CAA violence and the misinformation campaign that is being run by the anti CAA elements. On being asked why there was violence only in BJP ruled states and not in Congress ruled states, Shah wittingly replied, “You ask Congress why there were no riots in their states…We all know who is perpetrating the riots….” He added that people understood what he was saying.
He also asked the TMC, Congress, AAP and the Communist parties as to where should the crores of refugees from the three countries go. They have been denied voting rights, dignity, employment and even basic utilities like electricity, education, etc. Amit Shah also made it clear that these refugees belong to this country only. At the time of Partition, the government of the day had assured that the minorities being tormented in Pakistan were free to come to India whenever they wished to. If the Congress had not divided the country on the basis of religion, then this situation wouldn’t have arisen in the first place.
During this interview, Shah also cleared the air around the links that are being drawn between the NRC and the CAA. He reiterated that NRC is not being conducted, then why are protests taking place right now. He said, “The PM has only said that NRC is not coming as yet. I am also saying that there is no talk of NRC now.” On being asked, Shah also denied that NRC is being given a cold shoulder and stated, “Maine kahan aisa kaha hai (Where have I said that?). I am saying right now CAA has been brought, so discuss that.”
The Union Home Minister went on a complete rampage against the Gandhi dynasts for spreading misinformation and instilling a sense of panic by rumouring that the Modi govenrment is trying to take away citizenship of the poor in the country. Shah said, “The two things are different. There is no provision in the CAA that talks about NRC. Don’t go by what statements are being made in public, look at the Bill brought in Parliament. A white lie is being told. I want to tell Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi that you tell every day that the poor will lose citizenship. I want to ask them, tell me one provision (in the Act) that will do this.”
Amit Shah also spoke on the issue of police action against anti CAA rioters and said, “…When people come for protests and mob turns violent, police has to take action. By criticising law and order steps, we are not doing good to the country.” The anti CAA protests had witnessed widespread violence across the country and the left liberals had gone up in arms hounding the police forces after the latter reigned in the nefarious, anti social elements. Shah has however debunked their agenda with a succinct and effective observation.
The Union Home Minister first set the record straight during the ABP News interview and then he went on a complete rampage during the Jodhpur rally. The anti CAA rumour mills were operating in full flow, but Shah’s unforgiving assault on the opposition has debunked all myths surrounding the CAA. The opposition now finds itself in a tight spot having been exposed in the open by the BJP President.