Protest against Pak atrocities on minorities, Modi tells anti-CAA protesters

Tumakuru (Karnataka), January 2

Lambasting the Congress and its allies for opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the ongoing protests were against Parliament, and called on the agitators to raise their voice against Pakistan’s atrocities on its minorities for the last 70 years.

The Prime Minister said protecting and supporting minorities of neighbouring countries, who have sought refuge in India, is our cultural and national responsibility.

“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 here, 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 stage 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 here.

Pointing out that few weeks ago Parliament passed the CAA, Modi said, however, the Congress and its allies and the ecosystem created by them are standing 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 downtrodden 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.

Noting that Pakistan did atrocities against Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, but the Congress and its allies don’t speak against Pakistan, the Prime Minister said instead they are holding protests against those who took refuge in India to save their lives, their religion and to protect the pride of their sisters and daughters.

“They (Congress and allies) don’t have time to speak against Pakistan which did the atrocities against its minorities, what is the reason why their mouth is locked,” he asked.

“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.”

There is change in India’s policy against terrorism, the Prime Minister said by abrogating Article 370, effort has been made to remove fear of terror and uncertainty from the life of people there and a new beginning of development has been ushered in both in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

He also said the road has been cleared for the construction of a grand Ram mandir at Lord Ram’s birth place with peace and cooperation of everyone. PTI