Members of the youth wing of the state BJP on Monday set up a human chain from Kutchery Chowk to Albert Ekka Chowk in the heart of the capital in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Around 5000 people carrying banners, hoardings, party flags and the national flag joined the demonstration and raised slogans in support of the CAA.

Among the participants were Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth, Rajya Sabha member Mahesh Poddar, Ranchi mayor Asha Lakra, deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya, Ranchi MLA and former minister C.P. Singh, Hatia MLA Navin Jaiswal, former Mandar MLA Gangotri Kujur, party vice-president Aditya Sahu and state BJP spokesperson Pratu Nath Shahdeo.

Addressing the crowd, Seth blamed the Congress, the Left parties and other Opposition parties for “spreading lies” about the CAA.

“CAA is meant to give citizenship to religious minorities of three countries, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who fled from their country and are living in India as refugees due to religious prosecution in their country. It is not going to take back citizenship of any Indian,” said Seth.

He said that the Opposition parties were diving people and their leaders had become desperate after the Narendra Modi government scrapped Article 370 and 35A from the Constitution and the way had been paved for the construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple.

Poddar said that the Congress by opposing the CAA had lost the opportunity to correct the blunder it had committed during Partition in 1947.

Singh said the Congress and the Left parties “are known for appeasement”.

“They are the same people who had supported Afzal Guru (who was hanged in the Parliament attack case). These Leftists are known for their allegiance for Russia who patronised the tukde-tukde gang in JNU,” he said.