This is the time to maintain peace, unity, and brotherhood, says Modi

A day after police crackdown in Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia, amid students from various universities condemning the incident and the citizenship act by taking to the streets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (December 16) said that this was the time to maintain “peace, unity, and brotherhood”.

He appealed to everyone to stay away from any sort of “rumour mongering and falsehoods.”

This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2019

He also said the legislation does not affect any citizen of any religion in the country.

Reacting to the ongoing protests, in a series of tweets, Modi said groups with vested interests cannot be allowed to divide and create disturbances in the country. “The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised. We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance,” he tweeted.

The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised.

We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2019

“No Indian has anything to worry regarding this Act. This Act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India,” he said.

Pointing out that the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by both Houses of Parliament with overwhelming support, he said, “Large number of political parties and MPs supported its passage. This Act illustrates India’s centuries old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood.”

Assuring the CAA does not affect any citizen of India of any religion, he said no Indian should worry about the Act.

(With inputs from agencies)