‘Find One Provision In CAA That Takes Away Citizenship,’ Shah Challenges Rahul, Mamata

Further attacking the Congress party, he said: "When the partition of the country took place, the Congress party divided the country on the basis of religion." He said that the then leaders had assured Indian citizenship to the minority refugees from Pakistan.

Jabalpur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses during a CAA awareness event, in Jabalpur, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to "find out the provision in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)" which can take the citizenship away from any Indian. He said “I challenge Mamata Banerjee and Rahul baba, to find out a provision from Citizenship Amendment Act that can take citizenship away from anyone in this country.” He was speaking at a public meeting organised in Jabalpur to drum up support for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). He also said the government "will not rest" until each oppressed Pakistani refugee is given Indian citizenship. "Congress people, listen...Oppose (CAA) to the extent you can. But we won't sit quiet till each oppressed refugee from Pakistan gets Indian citizenship," he said. "We will rest only after giving citizenship to all these people. Nobody can stop us from doing so," he added. "The Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian refugees from Pakistan have the same rights in India as we have," he said. The BJP president also said that Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya in four months. Further attacking the Congress party, he said: "When the partition of the country took place, the Congress party divided the country on the basis of religion." He said that the then leaders had assured Indian citizenship to the minority refugees from Pakistan. "The Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Jain, who lived in both East and West Pakistan wanted to come here, but they stayed there because of the bloodshed. The leaders of our country then assured them that they will be welcome here and given the citizenship whenever they come," said Shah. Taking on the Congress for opposing the CAA, he said: "When the partition took place, there were 30 per cent Hindus in both East and West Pakistan. Today, there are just 3 per cent Hindus in Pakistan and 7 per cent Hindus in East Pakistan (Bangladesh). I want to ask the blind and deaf Congress leaders, where are my Hindu, Sikh, Sindhi brothers." The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (inputs from agencies)