Amid protests in West Bengal and Assam over the new Citizenship law, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reiterated its importance and said it allows persecuted religious groups from neighbouring countries to become Indian citizen. He said the decision was "1000 percent correct".

Explaining the rationale behind bringing in the law, the PM said it was necessary to improve the lives and provide respect to those people who have suffered because they were a minority in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

"Our Parliament made a significant change related to citizenship law due to which a small number of people religious minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who were being oppressed there will get shelter here… Our decision is 1000% right and actions of the Congress prove that all decisions taken in Parliament are correct," he said at an election rally in Dumka for the Jharkhand assembly polls.

Modi accused the Congress of fanning trouble in the Northeast and Assam over the Citizenship Act and said the people have seen through it.

"Modi ne, parliament ne, nagrikta ka kanoon bana ke desh ko bacha liya hai (Modi and Parliament saved the nation by making this law)," the PM said.

Assam witnessed mass protests across the state that forced the government to deploy a huge number of security forces to quell the disturbances. Four protesters were killed in police firing.

Modi also criticised the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress, saying neither party has a roadmap for developing Jharkhand.

Source: Hindustan Times

BDST: 1733 HRS, DEC 15, 2019

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