Source: Internet
Kolkata 12 Jan: In an effort to dilute Opposition criticism of CAA , which discriminates people on the basis of religion and is against the secular character of the Constitution of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that any person irrespective of his/her religion can apply for Indian citizenship provided he/she meets all criterion.
He even brought in Mahatma Gandhi to defend CAA, amidst uproar over CAA by various political parties and students in the country. Modi made sure his Kolkata visit didn’t go unmarked because of the continuous anti-CAA protests and he attempted to instil hope in the minds of people over CAA.
The much anticipated visit of Prime. Minister Narendra Modi to Kolkata amidst ongoing protests against the CAA in the country and the state, was marked by equal enthusiasm from the protestors and the Centre and state law enforcement agencies. If the protestors made sure their voices of dissent were heard, police forces ensured nothing untoward happened during the prime minister’s visit, lest the blame falls on the state.
Modi said that Mahatma Gandhi was among those who backed granting citizenship to persecuted religious minorties of Pakistan.
Addressing the youth at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramkrishna Mission on Swami Vivekananda’s birth day, he said: “The Citizenship Act was not brought overnight. We have only brought an amendment to the Citizenship Act and have made it easier for those who have suffered persecution in Pakistan after Partition to get Indian citizenship.”
Modi added: “Modi made it clear once again that CAA is not for taking citizenship from everybody but for granting citizenship. The Citizenship Amendment Act was aimed at fast -tracking Indian citizenship to those who have suffered religious persecution in countries like Pakistan . Any person irrespective of his or her religion, caste can seek citizenship of the country as per the laid down procedures provides he /she respects the Constitution of India.”
Taking a jibe at the Opposition political parties, Modi said: “Some political parties are creating misconceptions due to political reasons. People of tender age like youths and young students can understand this, but political parties are deliberately trying to create misconception. Some youths suffer from such misconceptions and are not aware of the issue. We have to make them understand the issue.”
However, Modi in his speech at Belur Math, took a dig at the Pakistan and brought up the persecution of religious minorities there. He also assured that provisions of CAA will not have any adverse affect on the demography and the culture of the North East people and it has been taken into consideration.
Incidentally, Assam, was amongst the first to raise concerns over the passage of the legislation. Protests there turned violent in the initial days, before agitators took to peaceful means.
“I am asking you (youths and students), whether there is any harm in helping the religious persecuted minorities who are staying at Pakistan and have been tortured. Can we see them being tortured continuolsy at the hands of Pakistan? Is it not our duty to help them? Whatever I have done I have done for the welfare of the persecuted minorities of Pakistan.” added Modi.
According to Opposition political parties Modi today used Belur Math, which is the headquarters of Ramkrishna Mission a non-political association as a platform to make a political statement.
He further said that it is the result of their initiative that Pakistan has to answer how they treated their minorities in the past 70 years. He also mentioned that North East people won’t be affected.
However this statement has been criticized by the CPI(M) leaders, who claimed that Modi is trying to bring attention of the people by trying to mislead the people .
Md Selim , CPI(M) leader said: “I am the chairman of the citizenship committee and we have asked Amit Shah, union home minister to produce document on how many people have been persecuted on the basis of religion and he said that he does not have the figures right now. Modi is trying to mislead the people. The Citizenship Amendment Act tries to eliminate people on the basis of religion.”
Sovan Deb Chattopadhyay, Trinamool Congress leader said: “This is an amendment in the Constitution of India. Till now 125 amendments have been made in the Constitution of India and Section 14 of the Constitution clearly mentions that it is discriminating people on the basis of religion and that’s why our leader Mamata Banerjee has raised opposition against the CAA. In this matter cases have been filed in the Supreme court and we are waiting for the Supreme Court’s verdict.”
Modi took a jibe at Mamata Banerjee as West Bengal government did not implement Central health scheme Ayushman Bharat and special welfare scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
During the sesquicentennial celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) programme at the stadium, Modi took a dig at West Bengal government alleging that Central schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Kissan Samman Nidhi were not being implemented in the state because there was no scope of having cut money or running a syndicate on this schemes.
“West Bengal did not implement the Central schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Kissan Samman Nidhi as there was no scope of cut money or running a syndicate on this schemes. Under the Pradhan Mantri Kissan Samman Nidhi, cash will directly be sent to the bank account of the beneficiaries. As there is no cut money involved in such schemes, the West Bengal government did not implement the Central scheme. I hope they implement the scheme for the welfare of the people. May good sense prevail on the policy-makers of West Bengal.”
Modi renamed Kolkata Port Trust as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port trust
At the sesquicentennial celebrations of the KoPT, Modi said: “KOPT will be known as Shyama Prasad Mukherjee port. It was unfortunate for the country that after Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee and Babasaheb Ambedkar resigned from the then government, their suggestions were not implemented as they should have been. Both Mookerjee and Ambdekar were instrumental in bringing a change in the coastal management system in India. On Saturday, after the inauguration of the renovated currency building in Kolkata, Modi announced that he wanted to set up a museum named ‘Biplabi Bharat’ which will have place for Bengali revolutionaries like Netaji, Aurobindo Ghosh, among others.