Cuttack: As part of its nationwide campaign to clear misconceptions about Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today organised a massive rally to create awareness among the people in Cuttack, Odisha. Participating in the mega awareness rally, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today hit out at the opposition, particularly the Congress and accused it for trying to disrupt peace in the country.
“Congress is trying to create fear in the minds of minorities and it is clear that not a single Muslim will be driven out from the country,” said Pradhan.
According to Pradhan, even Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and others were in favour of such legislation. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed courage and played a key role in the enactment of the legislation.
The people across the country are supporting CAA and only a handful of people and some parties are opposing it just to safeguard their own interests, the union minister said.
When asked about West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s opposition and Kerala CM’s letter to some Chief Ministers of States including Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, Pradhan said, “Those parties are opposing it are trying to create fear in the minds of people only to grab votes of minorities.The responsibility of providing citizenship lies with the Central government & not the States.”
BJP’s ‘Janjagran’ campaign to make the people of our state aware of the facts related to the CAA and to clear misconceptions will continue in Odisha till January 15.
Responding on BJP’s campaign, ruling-BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb said, “Of late the saffron party has launched a campaign to create awareness which should have been done much before.”
Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president, Niranjan Patnaik said BJP’s campaign is only a damage control exerice.
“BJP is not focussing on real issues before the country. Such campaign has been launched to divert attention from the economic slowdown,” said Patnaik.