Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the violent protests across the country “deeply disturbing,” adding, it is against the “ethos” of the nation.

Modi’s remarks, in a series of tweets on Monday, come a day after protests against the amended Citizenship Act escalated that led to a police crackdown on students of Jamia Millia University.

“Violent protests on the Citizenship Amendment Act are unfortunate and deeply distressing. Debate, discussion and dissent are essential parts of democracy but, never has damage to public property and disturbance of normal life been a part of our ethos,” Modi tweeted.

The Prime Minister put the blame on “vested interests,” in an apparent reference to the Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left parties, saying that they were trying to “divide” the nation and “create disturbance.”

In a rally in Jharkhand, Modi had blamed the Congress and other parties for “kicking up a storm” against the act.

“The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised. We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance,” he said in a tweeted.

The Prime Minister further appealed to maintain peace and stay away from “rumour mongering.”

“This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Modi also assured people that the act does not discriminate against any religion and is for those who have faced persecution.

“I want to unequivocally assure my fellow Indians that CAA does not affect any citizen of India of any religion. No Indian has anything to worry regarding this Act. This Act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India,” Modi said on Twitter.

Protests have erupted across the nation over the act with the Opposition calling it “unconstitutional”. Various chief ministers, including Pinarayi Vijayan and Mamata Banerjee, have vowed to not implement it in their respective states.

Earlier in the day, the Trinamul Congress chief took out a protest march against the nationwide National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act.