Lucknow, May 16, 2024 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a scathing rebuke to the Opposition, accusing them of spreading falsehoods about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Addressing a rally in Azamgarh, he challenged their claims that they would repeal the CAA, saying, “Desh mein koi maai ka laal paida hua hai jo CAA hata sake?” (Has anyone been born in this country who can repeal the CAA?). He emphasized that the process of granting Indian citizenship to refugees under the CAA had already begun.
PM Modi further criticized the Congress and other parties for their alleged persecution of refugees over the years.
The Prime Minister went on to say that “these [Congress] people climb the stairs of power, taking the name of Mahatma Gandhi, but they don’t remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi.”
“Mahatma Gandhi had himself ensured these people [minorities living in neighbouring countries] that they could come to India whenever they wanted,” PM Modi said.
He added, “In the last 70 years, thousands of families took asylum in India to safeguard their culture and religion. However, the Congress never bothered to think about them because they were not Congress’ vote bank.”
PM Modi’s statement came after the first set of citizenship certificates under the CAA was issued to 14 people. He was speaking ahead of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.
Along with Adityanath, the BJP’s Lalganj Lok Sabha seat candidate Neelam Sonkar and Azamgarh candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirhaua’ accompanied the PM on the stage. Polling in Lalganj and Azamgarh will be held in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election on May 25.
VIDEO | "Parties like Samajwadi Party and Congress spread lies over the issue of CAA. They tried their best to burn the country, including UP, in riots. Even today, people of this INDI alliance say that Modi has brought the CAA and the day he goes, CAA will also be removed. I… pic.twitter.com/rQKkAFYHOC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 16, 2024
“Parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress spread lies over the issue of the CAA.
They tried their best to burn the country, including UP, in riots. Even today, people in this INDI alliance say that Modi has brought the CAA, and the day he goes, the CAA will also be removed. Desh mein koi maai ka laal paida hua hai jo CAA hata sake? (Has anyone been born in this country who can repeal the CAA?). Nobody can remove the CAA. Modi has removed their veil of fake secularism under the garb of which they tried to do votebank politics and made Hindu-Muslim fight against each other,” Modi said addressing an election gathering in UP’s Lalganj in Azamgarh.
The Prime Minister firmly asserted that the CAA would remain intact, stating, “Nobody can remove the CAA.” He also pointed out the recent excitement shown by voters in Srinagar as proof that Article 370 could not be reinstated.
On Wednesday, the central government issued the first set of citizenship certificates under the CAA, marking a significant step in implementing the law. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla personally handed over these certificates to eligible applicants, highlighting the salient features of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024.
The Opposition’s challenge to the CAA remains unanswered, as PM Modi’s resolute stance echoes across the political landscape. The question remains: Will anyone be able to dismantle the CAA? For now, it seems unlikely, as the Prime Minister stands firm in his guarantee that the CAA is here to stay.
For More News updates, Follow Read Now News
Nikhil Malhotra 
