Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or the CAA in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh is not a coincidence, but an experiment by opposition parties to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the national capital.
“They are always involved in vote bank politics, appeasement politics. Can they ever ensure a safe environment in Delhi for development? never.
Be it Seelampur, Jamia or Shaheen Bagh, you have seen protests over the CAA in the last few days. Do you think this is a coincidence? No, this is an experiment, ”the PM said in his first election rally in Delhi for the February 8 assembly election.
“There is a political design behind it, which threatens to break the harmony of society,” he said.
PM Modi said that if there was confusion about the law, then the protest should have ended after the government’s assurance.
“But the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress are playing the game of politics.
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By keeping the constitution and tricolor in the foreground, attention is diverted from the actual conspiracy.
Taking a dig at the Congress, the PM said that those who questioned the Batla House encounter are protecting those who have raised the slogan ‘Tukde Tukde’.
Protests have been going on for more than 50 days in South Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh and are being led by women. The protests have led to the closure of a major road (No 13A) that connects Delhi to Noida.
The administration, as well as locals, have requested the protesters to evacuate the road so that passengers do not face inconvenience, but they have ignored all requests.
The protesters want the government to withdraw amendments to the citizenship law, which exponentially increases citizenship of persecuting minorities from three neighboring countries, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The protesters say the law divides society on the basis of religion – a charge denied by the government. The Center, particularly Home Minister Amit Shah (who has handled the bill in Parliament), has said that the CAA is here to stay.
Assembly elections for 70 seats in Delhi will be held on February 8 and counting of votes will take place on February 11. The campaign ends on 6 February.
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BJP, which has been out of power for the last two decades in Delhi, is trying to sideline the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the issue of law and order in the city-state.
Meanwhile, the AAP is looking to return to power, hoping to improve its record of winning 67 out of 70 seats in 2015.