International Desk : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday targeted the previous Congress-led governments while defending recent amendment to the Citizenship Act. Speaking at a National Caded Corps (NCC) event in New Delhi, PM Modi said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was brought by the government to correct “historical injustice” done to people who fled their home countries to escape religious persecution, reports India Today.
PM Modi said, “Those who are indulging in fear-mongering over the CAA refuse to take note of persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. Shouldn’t we help those persecuted for their faith? Some time back, a Pakistan Army advertisement came out in which it was clearly written that only non-Muslims should apply for sanitation workers post.”
Asserting that the CAA was part of the BJP’s election promise, Prime Minister Modi said the government brought the CAA to correct “historical injustice” done to religious minorities living in neighbouring countries.
The CAA opens a fast-track window for acquiring citizenship by non-Muslim illegal immirants who fled Bangladesh, Paksitan and Afghanistan to escape religious persecution. The CAA says such illegal immigrants who came to India before 2015 will get benefit under this law.
PM Modi was speaking at the Annual NCC Rally in Delhi, where he also spoke about situation in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan’s support to terrorism and separatism in the Kashmir Valley. PM Modi blamed the Abdullah and Mufti families for the current state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir.
PM Modi said the problem in Jammu and Kashmir persisted since Independence and some families and political parties kept issues in the region “alive”, as a result of which terrorism thrived there. He said the present government has been trying to solve decades-old problems plaguing the country.
Slamming Pakistan, the prime minister said the neighbouring country has lost three wars, but continues to wage proxy wars against India. Previous governments, he said, treated the problem as a law and order issue.
“But even when our armies would ask for action, they would not go ahead,” said PM Modi alleging “inaction” by previous governments at the Centre.
PM Modi said there is peace today not only in Jammu and Kashmir but other parts of the country as well. He said the government has managed to address aspirations of the Northeast which was neglected for decades.
Listing out the achievements of the government, PM Modi referred to the Bodo agreement, triple talaq law and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
