New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in his first big interview of year 2020, spoke fiercely on several burning issues of the country including protests over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), proposed National Register Of Citizens (NRC), defeat of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assembly elections and even the ongoing economic slowdown.


Speaking to Sumit Awasthi during an interactive session of the event, Shah kept his focus on the issue of CAA and NRC and once appealed to the countrymen especially minorities not to fall prey of alleged misinformation spread by Opposition parties and assured that no one's citizenship will be taken away.

"Wrong information was spread by the Opposition parties which created confusion among the minorities," he said adding that the amended Citizenship Act is not about taking away citizenship, but to give citizenship to those who are religiously persecuted in some countries.



"Modi government has included immigrants of all religions in the Citizenship Amendment Act. We do not intend to do injustice with other religions, but Opposition is spreading rumours and false thread in minorities of the country," the minister said.

On the question of leaving Muslim community in the Citizenship Amendment Act, Home Minister Amit Shah said that why would Muslims be persecuted in Muslim majority countries. Further talking to those opposing CAA, Shah said that they must first tell that where will these persecuted minorities go, if we do not take them?

When asked about the confusion regarding the act amongst people, Amit Shah said, "In am ready to talk to anyone who have doubts or questions on either Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), NRC, NPR. Doors of my house are open for everyone and if someone comes to me even at 3 am, I am ready to meet them."


On the issue of several non-BJP ruled states rejecting the implementation of CAA and NRC, the Home Minister said that the government is ready to talk to all state governments in case they have any doubts about the legislation.

"I am ready to talk to state governments of non-BJP ruled states that are opposition the Citizenship Amendment Act. We will try to solve the differences by taking to every citizen and political parties," the BJP leader said.

Speaking on the issue of Kashmir lockdown after abrogation of Article 370, Amit Shah said that first of all situation of the valley in totally in control and leaders who have been detained since 5 months will be released when administration decides.



Responding to the question of the ongoing economic slowdown in the country, Amit Shah asserted that it is due to global financial slowdown and India will start showing upward trends within the next one or two quarters.

"On economic front, PM Modi and FM Nirmala Sitharaman have taken strong steps to boost country's economy and I expect within the next one or two quarters, India will once again start showing upward trends," he said.



Speaking about the upcoming Delhi elections, Amit Shah said that this time people of Delhi does not want a 3-month government, but a complete 5 year government and it will not be easy for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Arvind Kejriwal to win Assembly Elections in Delhi.