PM Modi contradicts his lieutenant Amit Shah & his party prez Nadda on NRC

NH Web Desk

As widely anticipated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday blamed ‘urban naxals’ and the Congress for misleading the nation on the amended citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Addressing a BJP rally in the national capital, the Prime Minister also described as a lie and rumour the detention centres reportedly being built at several places in the country.

Contrary to expectations voiced by some quarters, the Prime Minister held out no balm or provided any healing touch even as the death toll in the country rose to 24 in the last one week following protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the NRC.

He did not spare a word for students who have been blinded, killed and injured by the police but called upon his audience to support policemen, who, he said, were laying down their lives.

While Home Minister Amit Shah is on record saying in Parliament that NRC will be rolled out across the country, government spokesmen and ministers have been speaking in different voices on the NRC and have added to the confusion.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s speech, former Union Minister and Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted: “PM says in the Ramlila ground - there are no detention centres in India. His govt told Rajya Sabha on 27th November 2019 that 28 people died in Detention Camps in Assam. Are you correct PM or your Home Minister?”

PM Modi also made the following points while defending the contentious law and the proposed NRC:

 He accused political parties of "telling lies and spreading misinformation" about CAA

 He condemned attacks on the police as well as on public transport, shops and government property. “My rivals should burn my effigy if they hate me but they should not target the poor,” he said.

 As videos of police brutality, including opening fire, on college students and protesters go viral, Modi said: “33,000 police personnel have laid down their lives during work since Independence but now being attacked mercilessly.”

 The PM maintained that the government had "never asked for anyone's religion" when implementing major policies

 Insisted that India's Muslims - one in seven of India's 1.35 billion population - "don't need to worry" about the bill

 He stressed the amended citizenship law has nothing to do with Indian citizens and the CAA and NRC have nothing to do with Indian Muslims

Some of the reactions to the PM’s address were as follows:

• PM says Opposition does not want persecuted minorities from neighbourhood to get citizenship in India. Opposition never said that. It only wants persecuted Muslims also to be included. Even your ally Akali dal wants this Modi ji.

• I can't believe it. People are protesting and many have died (Police and citizens have been injured). The country is going through turmoil and Modi gives a speech blaming Congress and Urban Naxals.