New Delhi: Amid the ongoing nationwide protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday slammed the Opposition for creating confusion over the act and spoiling the atmosphere by misleading the people. Without taking name, Shah blamed the Congress party for provoking violence that erupted in the national capital during CAA-demonstrations last week.

Addressing an event organised by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Shah, in an apparent reference to the left leaning intellectuals opposing the amended citizenship law, said it was time to defeat the 'tukde tukde' gang. "People of Delhi must punish the tukde-tukde gang, which under the influence of Congress party created violence in the national capital," he said.

"The opposition led by the Congress created confusion about the Citizenship Amendment Act. By misleading people on the CAA, the opposition spoiled the peaceful atmosphere of Delhi," Shah said on the recent anti CAA protests, some of which turned violent in areas like the Jamia Millia University and Seelampur.


"Recently, opposition politicians under the leadership of Congress spread rumours about the Citizenship Amendment Act. People came out on the roads and disturbed the peace and calm of Delhi. These politicians disturbed the peace of Delhi," said Shah.

Without naming anyone, Shah was referring to Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi's sit-in at India Gate against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act.

He also raked up the anti-Sikh pogrom allegedly spearheaded by senior Congress leaders in the aftermath of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. The issue still finds resonance in Delhi, particularly amid a large chunk of Sikh voters. "Congress could never deliver justice to the victims. The moment the Modi government came to power, an SIT was formed. Today the rioters are in jail," Shah said.

Further in his speech, Shah also questioned why the opposition parties kept silent on CAA when it was being discussed in Parliament adding that they started spreading rumours about the act as soon as the amendment was passed.

WATCH | Home Minister Amit Shah's Full Speech



Exuding confidence about the performance of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the national capital, he said time is up for the Kejriwal government in Delhi and 'lotus will bloom.' "Delhi, you gave (us) all seven BJP MPs, now time to give BJP MLAs (a chance) in the next polls for development of the national capital," Shah, who is also the BJP President, said.

Taking on Kejriwal, he said the AAP dispensation obstructed Centre's schemes. "Kejriwal has not implemented the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Ayushman Bharat. He only wants to put his name on our pet projects," Shah said.

Shah was addressing a crowd on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of integrated development of East Delhi hub, a dream project of BJP's East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir. While heaping praise on the cricketer-turned-politician, Shah appealed to people to vote for "equally hard-working" MLAs as well, when Delhi goes to polls early next year.

BJP hopes to taste power in the national capital where it has been out of power for nearly two decades. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the party's poll campaign at Ramlila Ground where the issue of regularising illegal colonies in Delhi was projected as an 'achievement' of the BJP.

(With inputs from agencies)