Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 will "never" be taken back and that the Muslims still have the right to apply for citizenship.
"CAA law will never be taken back. It is our sovereign right to ensure Indian citizenship in our country, we will never compromise on it," Shah said in an interview to ANI.
On being asked about the anti-Muslim rhetoric being voiced out by some members of the Opposition and the foreign media, Shah said, "You cannot see this law in isolation. In 1947, partition was done based on religion... Congress leaders at the time had said that people who migrated could come back anytime. But due to appeasement politics, Congress never fulfilled its promise... "
"...Even Muslims have the right to apply for citizenship...The doors have not been closed for anyone. This special act has been made as people have come without any documents...," he added.
The BJP leader also drew a sharp attack at the Opposition on the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 after the Centre notified the rules for the law on Monday. Since then the Opposition has been targetting the Narendra Modi government over the timing of notifying the rules, just ahead of the polls, when the CAA was passed in 2019. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee asserted that CAA is linked to National Register of Citizens.
Responding to the criticism by the Opposition, Shah said that their history has been of not delivering on the promises that they make.
"Unki history hai jo bolte hai woh karte nahi hai, Modi ji ki history hai jo BJP ya PM Modi ne kaha woh patthar ki lakeer hai. Modi ki har guarantee poori hoti hai..." he said during an interview with news agency ANI.