Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dared the Congress and its allies to openly announce whether they would grant Indian citizenship to every citizen of Pakistan, “dare” to bring back Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir and repeal the law against instant triple talaq.
Addressing an election rally at Bhognadih under Barhait Assembly constituency in Sahebganj district, where the BJP has fielded Simon Malto against sitting MLA and JMM working president Hemant Soren, Modi said the Congress and its allies should stop “guerrilla politics” and using students as a shield.
His speech was peppered with the words “chunauti” (challenge) and himmat (courage), each of which was repeated at least a dozen times.
“I am today daring the Congress and its lackeys, all the parties with it, that they declare in public that they are ready to give Indian citizenship to every citizen of Pakistan. The country will judge them,” Modi said.
“If the Congress has the courage, let them openly bring back Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir. Say it, say it if you have the courage. If the Congress has the courage then let them also declare publicly that they will bin the law against triple talaq,” Modi said.
Modi said that the Congress should either accept his challenge or stop spreading lies. “And you must stop using others as a shield for your guerrilla politics.”
He spoke at length over the controversy surrounding the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, over which protests have erupted across India with premier universities like Jamia Millia Islamia becoming the centre stage of agitation.
“Just for your politics, don’t commit the sin of spoiling dreams of parents who have sent their children for study with their hard-earned money. I appeal to students of university and colleges… you should realise the importance of the valuable time of your life and the importance of the academic institutions where you are studying. You discuss polices of the government and peacefully demonstrate if you find any fault in the policy to bring the matter to the notice of the government. The government will take care of it,” he said.
However, reports pouring in from across the country pointed to police crackdowns on even legitimate forms of protest such as signature campaigns.
Modi cautioned that students must understand that “urban Naxals” were using students for their own motive.
He claimed there is nothing against Muslims in the amended citizenship law.
‘Urban Naxals’ on Modi lips
“I want to ask how it will affect Indian Muslim or any other citizen of the country and their right. Then why are you (Opposition) spreading lies? Why are you ruining the country? The Congress, its allies and the ecosystem of the Left are creating fear among Muslims. The country has already faced Partition. The Congress allowed infiltrators to settle in India and used them as vote bank. The Congress and its partners are responsible for whatever problems the nation has been facing due to infiltration,” Modi said.
Leaders like Asaduddin Owaisi have, however, said that the new citizenship law has an “unholy nexus” with the proposed all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) and that the amended law is meant to shield non-Muslims from being sent to foreigners’ tribunals and detention centres under the NRC exercise.
Modi also said that the nation was aware how for the last 20 years he was targeted and hated and that “such people” can’t look beyond their bias against him.
He said that the Congress, its allies and the Left were frustrated with the way he resolved long-pending issues of the country like the Ayodhya dispute and Article 370.
“Your love and blessings trouble the Congress and their partners like the JMM, the RJD and Left and they can’t digest it,” Modi said. “All these years they created fear among people and their lie has been exposed. People know that if there is any sense of security only the BJP government can provide.”
