Protest as much as you can, CAA won’t be withdrawn, says Amit Shah

Attacking the opposition for “misleading” people on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (January 21) said the law will not be scrapped despite protests over it.

Addressing a rally in Lucknow — which is one of the prominent areas of protest against the CAA — as part of the government’s outreach programme to “create awareness” on the CAA, Shah said there is no provision in the amended law for taking anyone’s citizenship away.

“A canard is being spread against the CAA by the Congress, SP, BSP, and Trinamool Congress. The CAA is a law to grant citizenship, he said.

“I want to say that irrespective of the protests, this will not be withdrawn,” he added.

Also read: Opposition’s falsehood on CAA caused anarchy in country: Amit Shah

Shah also challenged the opposition leaders to hold a discussion with him on the CAA at a public forum. He named Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, Bahujan Samaj Party’s Mayawati and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee. “I dare you to show me any clause in the Act that talks about taking away any one’s citizenship,” NDTV quoted Shah as saying.

“The Congress has been ignorant about illegal migration and terrorism from Pakistan for years. They have become blind due to vote bank politics,” he said. He also blamed the Congress for Partition.

He further declared that the construction of a Ram temple that touches the skies in Ayodhya will begin within the next three months.

Also read: ‘Sky-high’ Ram temple to be built in 4 months, says Amit Shah

(With inputs from agencies)