Govt won't budge on CAA: Amit Shah

Amid nationwide protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that government will not withdraw CAA at any cost. Shah was addressing a rally in Jodhpur organised to support and spread awareness about CAA.

Speaking at the first pro-CAA rally held in Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's home turf Jodhpur, Shah said that CAA was not against Indian minorities and it was not going to take anyone's citizenship away. He attacked the Congress saying the party misled people on the law. "The Congress is carrying out a misinformation campaign against CAA," Shah added.

Making his stand clear, Shah said that even if all the Opposition parties come together, the BJP would not, at any cost, reverse the decision on CAA.

"CAA was not against Indian minorities and it is not going to take anyone's citizenship away. There's no provision in the amended law will take anyone's citizenship away; it is a law to grant citizenship" Shah added. Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said that he can translate it in the Italian language too if Gandhi doesn't understand this basic fact.

While addressing thousands of people at the rally, which included sizable number of Pakistani Hindu migrants, Shah said, "Minorities have lived honourably in India while their percentage is declining in our neighbouring countries."

Strategic Jodhpur visit

Shah's visit comes as a strategic decision of the BJP as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been at the forefront of attacking the central government over the controversial CAA and NRC. Coincidentally, Jodhpur has the highest number of Hindu migrants from Pakistan who have been awaiting Indian citizenship for years.

Shah said that CAA is being opposed by those who have become habitual to playing politics which is why the BJP has decided to reach out to the people and make them aware of it. Shah also said that the BJP would go door-to-door and explain the merits of CAA and also asked people to give a missed call on 88662-88662 to share their support for Modi over CAA.