Stop speaking lies about CAA: BJP to Opposition leaders

The BJP on March 13 accused the Opposition parties of stoking communal passion by speaking “lies” about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), as the Modi government came under attack over its implementation.

The BJP on March 13 accused the Opposition parties of stoking communal passion by speaking "lies" about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), as the Modi government came under attack over its implementation.

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad hit out at the Opposition leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for their fierce criticism of the law and maintained that it takes away no Indian's citizenship or job.

“The Aam Aadmi Party leader has made a very strange statement,” he said in reference to Mr. Kejriwal’s claim that the BJP government at the Centre can’t provide jobs to Indians but wants to give them to those coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Asserting that the law is for those minorities who were persecuted in the three countries because of their religious faith, Mr. Prasad said these people have been living a tough life in India and asked if the country is not morally, culturally and constitutionally right in granting them citizenship.

“Home Minister Amit Shah has made it clear that the CAA is about granting citizenship and takes away no one’s citizenship,” he said. “Why are Opposition parties spreading this propaganda,” he said, alleging that they would stand in support of Rohingyas.

“I will ask those stoking communal passion in the name of the CAA that they should stop spreading lies about it,” he said. “Ms. Banerjee is on a slippery ground and it is forcing her to give the issue a communal colour,” Mr. Prasad claimed.