Urban naxals using students in anti-citizenship law protests: PM Modi in Jharkhand

Urban naxals are firing off students' shoulders, says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election campaign rally in Charkhi Dadri | PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election campaign rally in Charkhi Dadri | PTI

Amid nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday blamed 'urban naxals' for inciting student protestors, using university campuses to spread violence and an atmosphere of fear to scare Indian Muslims. "Stop this guerilla politics. Indian Constitution is our only holy book. I appeal to youth in colleges to debate our policies, protest democratically. We will listen to you. But some parties, urban naxals, are firing off your shoulders," Modi hit out against the opposition in Jharkhand's Berhait during a poll rally. 

"The Congress and its allies are creating an atmosphere of lies to scare the Indian Muslims. They're spreading violence. Citizenship Amendment Act does not snatch away any right of an Indian citizen or cause any harm," Modi explained. He the main opposition party to publicly declare it is prepared to accord Indian citizenship to all Pakistanis. "I dare the Congress, its friends to publicly declare they are prepared to accord Indian citizenship to all Pakistanis," he said.

Amid a wave of violent protests in several parts of the country over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Modi sought to assuage concerns of Indians apprehensive about getting stripped of their citizenship.

He said the law was enacted for religious minorities of three nations--Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan--who fled their countries because of religious persecution.

"It's for people who have fled three countries due to atrocities on account of their religious faith. It's for those who are living in miserable conditions and cannot go back," he said.

Modi said he wanted to know how the new citizenship law had encroached upon the rights of Indian Muslims, or for that matter, any citizen of the country.