BJP to counter CAA agitation with 1,000 rallies, outreach programmes

The party will reach out to three crore families

caa-support-demonstration-sanjay People holding a demonstration in support of CAA in Delhi | Sanjay Ahlawat

With protests continuing to mount against the new citizenship law, the BJP has decided to launch a counter offensive. During a 10-day intensive outreach programme, the party will “educate” over three crore families about the new law.

BJP working president J.P. Nadda held a meeting of party leaders during which it was decided that the BJP will go out to counter the “misunderstandings spread by the opposition parties” about the bill.

“In the next few days, the BJP will reach out to three crore families in all parts of the country, hold over 1,000 rallies and programmes, and 250 press conferences to clear the doubts people have about the Citizenship Amendment Act. We will also call the persecuted minorities from three countries who will get citizenship,” BJP general secretary Bhupender Yadav said.

Yadav blamed the Congress and other opposition parties for inciting people. “Misunderstanding is going away slowly, and people are understanding,” Yadav said, adding that they have received letters of support from students of nearly two dozen universities and 1,100 academicians.

The BJP leader said earlier the Congress, during its rule, had given citizenship to Hindus from neighbouring countries, but the party is now trying to stop it. “Now, the Congress is lying, and we will expose them through dialogue with the people.”

“We believe that under Narendra Modi's leadership, hundreds of people now hope to have the right to exercise their own religion free of harassment.”

Referring to the National Register for Citizens (NRC), Yadav said NRC is an administrative issue. He clarified that those who are citizens will continue to remain so.

Yadav said the government will hold dialogue with students as well. “We condemn violence of all types. Look at the way RJD created ruckus. They attacked the poor and the daily wagers in Bihar. In democracy there is no place for violent protests.”