Daijiworld Media Network - Kolar (SP)
Kolar, Jan 5: BJP state president and MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel on Saturday January 4 said that Citizenship Ammendment Act (CAA) was brought into force as per the wishes of Mahatma Gandhi.
He was addressing a public meeting organized by the BJP in the town on Saturday in support of CAA formulated by the union government.
Accusing the Congress of spreading false information about the act, he charged it of opposing this act because of vote bank politics. He pointed out that the government wants to grant citizenship to those who already are not citizens, duly clarifying that citizenship will not be taken away from anyone.
In a sly dig at Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, he said, "Our country has granted citizenship for people belonging to Italy. Why should we not grant citizenship to others? In a democratic nation, people's opinion reigns supreme. Narendra Modi is backed by the enormous strength of the people of the country. I do not want to speak about freedom fighters, thinkers and writers who oppose CAA. Those who resort to spreading false information are anti-nationals. As the Congress is engaged in spreading falsehood and malicious propaganda, it is anti-national," Kateel asserted.
Revenue minister, R Ashok, reminded the people that India is not a choultry for anyone and every citizen from other countries to settle come here freely and settle down here. He said that foreign countries do not allow people from other countires to stay beyond visa expiry period. He said that the ammendment to the act had to be brought as there are many in India who have been overstaying their visa terms by several years.
The people's awareness rally on CAA was organized by various organizations under the aegis of Indian Welfare Forum here. The police resorted to caning the crowd after enthusiastic youngsters tried to deviate the permitted route and lead the procession towards the Clock Tower. The police had initially set up barricades to stop the rally from moving on a road that was not on the scheduled route, after which verbal friction with the people ensued. When the participants of the rally tried to move ahead by pushing aside the barricades, the police, under the instructions of superintendent of police, Kartik Reddy, caned the people which left some people injured.
Some of the participants then sat in a dharna, which was withdrawn after MLC, Y A Narayanaswamy, promised to act against those who resorted to lathi charge.