Mangaluru: “The BJP government in the Centre has not implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) with a patriotic mindset, but for political gain and mileage. Their main intention is to win elections in the future and the implementation of the CAA is just a strategy,” said Congress leader B L Shankar.
Addressing the gathering at the CAA, NRC, and NPR workshop and awareness programme organized by the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee on Thursday, February 6, he said, “By implementing such an Act, the BJP is trying to win the confidence of the people through emotional tactics, because after 72 years of Indian independence, the Muslim community of this country is looked at with doubting eyes. I request the BJP government not to trouble the 130 crore people of this country, for the intention to find a few infiltrators.”
“Around 70 percent of the people in this country live in rural areas and the land that they own is less than 20 percent. Nearly 50 percent of the population are labourers. If the NRC is implemented, the poor will be directly affected and if the Centre thinks that it is only the minority section that will get affected, then they are living in fool’s paradise,” he added.
Further criticizing the Centre, Shankar said, “India is a diversified country. A majority of the states have opined that if this Act is implemented, it will shake the cultural roots of the country. I would like to ask the Central leaders if it is ethical to make the whole population of the country stand in a queue to prove their citizenship? After the Citizenship Act 1955 was implemented, this Act has been amended several times, but it was not amended based on religion. The current amendment is purely based on religion. If the Centre wants to give citizenship, let it give it all, irrespective of religion. The Congress party will fight if it favours only one religion.”
“People migrating from one country to the other is a common phenomenon. It is human nature. But the BJP government has not understood it. Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statements differ from each other on the NRC, when the BJP leaders themselves say that there is no issue. Why is it so?” he added.
Meanwhile, he urged PM Modi to follow the principles laid by the former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee at least at this point in time.
Former minister Ramanath Rai, former legislators J R Lobo, Mohiuddin Bava, Shakuntala Shetty, MLC Harish Kumar, and others were present.
