Amit Shah Tears Into Rahul Gandhi Over CAA; Says Those Opposing Citizenship Act Are 'Anti-Dalits'

Amit Shah also said that those who are against the citizenship act are 'anti-Dalits' and clarified that there is no clause in the law that takes away citizenship of Muslims, and accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of trying to create confusion.

BJP President Amit Shah addresses an awareness rally on Citizenship Amendment Act. (Image: PTI)

Bengaluru: Attacking Rahul Gandhi for constantly opposing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday challenged the Congress leader to prove that how the new amended introduced by Modi government and passed by President of India takes away citizenship of Indian Muslims and advised him to reach the act completely. Addressing a public rally on CAA in Bengaluru as part of BJP’s nationwide ‘Jan Jagran Abhiyan’, Shah also said that those who are against the citizenship act are 'anti-Dalits' and clarified that there is no clause in the law that takes away citizenship of Muslims, and accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of trying to create confusion. “I challenge Rahul Gandhi...read the CAA completely, if you find anything that takes away citizenship of Indian Muslims....our Pralhad Joshi (Parliamentary Affairs Minister) is ready to debate with you,” Shah said. The minister also accused Congress of dividing the country on the basis of religion. He also slammed other Opposition parties and political leaders including the Communist party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the JDS, BSP, and SP for indulging in vote bank politics over CAA. WATCH | Amit Shah Attacks Rahul Gandhi For Opposing Citizenship Amendment Act Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Union minister Pralhad Joshi and several BJP leaders attended the rally. Not just the outgoing BJP president, but even the interim BJP President JP Nadda attacked Rahul Gandhi and dared him to speak ten sentences on the CAA, a legislation the Congress is vehemently opposing. "The Congress is opposing the CAA. I dare Rahul Gandhi to speak 10 sentences on the law. He should tell us in two sentences what is his problem with the CAA," he said. Accusing the Congress of misleading the nation on the issue and calling it "unfortunate", Nadda claimed: "He is leading such a big party and has to decide himself how he has to do it, but he should not mislead the country."

Later he took to Twitter to carry on his attack. "For the Congress and the Left, their vote bank comes before the country. For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country comes first and votes later," he posted. ALSO WATCH | PM Modi, Amit Shah Speaking Differently On CAA, NRC: Supriya Sule The event was part of the BJP's reach out programme to all castes, communities and religions to drum up support for the CAA, which gives Indian citizenship to members of six persecuted non-Muslim communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have fled to India till December 31, 2014. The Congress, along with other opposition parties, have been vocal against the legislation, terming it "unconstitutional" and "discriminatory". The BJP has all along argued the grounds for opposing the CAA are baseless as it does not discriminate against Indian Muslims or, for that matter, against any Indians. (With inputs from agencies)