“Modi-Shah savdhan, hum bachayenge samvidhan” (Beware Modi-Shah, we will protect the Constitution) should be the slogan of the nationwide anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) movement, said CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury while participating in an anti-CAA rally in Guwahati on Friday.

Braving a rainy winter morning, hundreds joined a public rally organised by the Assam state committee of the CPM in the Guwahati Club area.

Terming the protesters “patriots” who are fighting to safeguard the Constitution, Yechury warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to stop imposing CAA on the citizens of the country.

The Left leader in his address said, “Since when religion has become the criterion to become Indian citizens? Our Constitution has given equal rights to everyone from any religion or even an atheist. By bringing in CAA, the BJP only aims to polarize the country based on religion. Those who have come out to protect the Constitution and the secular nature of India are patriots.”

Yechury called Prime Minister Modi a liar. In a humorous manner, the leader said he has been amazed by the Prime Minister’s lies and attempts to mislead the country. “From saying that CAA is not discriminatory to the existence of detention camp, Modi had lied more than 10 times in his speech in Delhi. I have lost count of his lies.”

“They (BJP leaders) say the protests against CAA were violent but the truth is that it’s them who are being violent on the protesters. But the democratic and peaceful Opposition will defeat them.”

Yechury also blamed the Modi-led government for bringing the economy of the country to a crisis situation.

The Left leader said the CPM) supports the Assam Accord and demanded that the CAA should be withdrawn from Assam and other northeastern states. “We are with the people of Assam, determined to stop the implementation of the CAA. The CPM will not allow the negation or dilution of the Assam Accord,” he said.

Demanding immediate release of Akhil Gogoi who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and judicial probe into the deaths of five persons killed in alleged police action, the CPM also raised a demand for a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for each of the victim’s families.

The Left party also announced a nationwide protest against CAA on January 8.