PM Modi also targetted Congress and other parties for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (Photo Credit: ANI)
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on the agitators protesting against the Citizenship Act to raise their voice against Pakistan's atrocities on its minorities for the last 70 years. Defending the contensious law, the Prime Minister said protecting and supporting minorities of neighbouring countries who have sought refuge in India was our cultural and national responsibility. Modi also targetted Congress and other parties for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act.
"Those who are protesting against the Parliament of India, I want to tell them that the need was to expose Pakistan's deeds on the world stage. If you want to protest, protest and raise voice against Pakistan's deeds for the last 70 years, you should have that guts," he said.
Addressing a gathering at Siddaganga Math near Bengaluru, he said, "If you want to shout slogans, shout against the way in which atrocities are happening against minorities there; if you want to hold rallies, hold it in favour of dalits and downtrodden who have come from Pakistan (to India). If you want to do dharna, do it against Pakistans deeds."
Modi was speaking after paying respects at the 'Gadduge' (final resting place) of Shivakumara Swamiji at Siddaganga Math, a prominent Lingayat seminary.
Pointing out that few weeks ago the Parliament passed the CAA, Modi said, however, the Congress and its allies and the ecosystem created by them are standing up against the Indian Parliament.
He said, "the kind of hate they have towards us (BJP), similar voice can be heard against the country's Parliament these days. These people have begun protest against the country's parliament...These people are protesting against dalits, suppressed and downtroden who have come from Pakistan seeking refuge."
Pointing out that Pakistan was born on the basis of religion, and India was divided in the name of religion, Modi said from the time of partition, people of other religion in Pakistan faced atrocities.
"Whether it is Hindu or Sikh or Christian or Jain atrocities have increased against them in Pakistan with time. Thousands of such people had to leave their houses had to come to India as refugees," he said.
"It is our duty to help refugees who have come from Pakistan... most of the Hindus who have come from there are dalits and downtrodden, we cannot leave them like that, protecting them is our cultural and national responsibility, he said, adding "we should also help Sikh, Jain and Christians who have come from Pakistan."
(With PTI Inputs)
