india

Updated: Jan 28, 2020 15:15 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the government has brought the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to correct “historical injustice” and to fulfil the BJP’s “old promise” to religious minorities living in neighbouring countries.

The PM, who was speaking at the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally, said the present government was trying to solve decades old problems plaguing the country. Previous governments, he said, treated the problem as a law and order issue.

Taking on critics of the citizenship law, the PM said it was being done with the intention to tarnish his image in the world.

“These people are spreading propaganda that the decisions that the government took have affected my reputation in the entire world. These rumour-mongers must understand that I don’t work for my reputation, but for India’s reputation,” said the PM.

The country, the PM added, knows the true face of the people who are applying a communal colour to it. Those protesting say the amended act is violative of the constitutional scheme of right to equality and that the government is discriminating against a particular community.

The act allows citizenship for Hindus, Bhuddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Christians who allegedly fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and returned to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Four state governments - West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kerala - have already passed resolutions against CAA in their respective state assemblies.

Alleging discrimination by Pakistan towards Hindus, the PM spoke about an advertisement by Islamabad calling only non-Muslims for a certain post.

“Some time ago, Pakistan’s Army had put out an advertisement. It was an ad for cleaning workers. It said that only non-Muslims could apply for the post. That means it was for these Dalits and other minorities,” said the PM.

Modi said the problem in Jammu and Kashmir persisted since Independence and some families and political parties kept issues in the region “alive”, as a result of which terrorism thrived there.

Slamming Pakistan, the prime minister said the neighbouring country has lost three wars, but continues to wage proxy wars against India.

He also said that currently, not only J-K, but other parts of the country are also peaceful and the government has managed to address the aspirations of the northeast region which were neglected for decades.