Opposition “misleading” youth on CAA: PM Modi

Belur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the Opposition parties for “misleading” the Youth on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

During an address at Belur Math, the Headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, he said, “A number of youth are still misinformed about CAA. Those playing political games purposely refuse to understand CAA.”

“It is our responsibility to make the youth understand,” Mr Modi said.

The Prime Minister reiterated, “The Citizenship Act is not for taking anyone’s citizenship but is for providing citizenship. The Citizenship Act is just a change in the Citizenship law.”

“I want to reiterate that CAA is not about taking away citizenship but giving citizenship. Want to clarify that we did not bring the law overnight,” he stated.

The PM said, “It is because of CAA people are now aware of the kind of persecution minorities face in Pakistan.”

He asserted that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will not take away “ndian citizenship”, but grant it to those who faced “religious persecution” in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till 2014.

He said, “After independence, Mahatma Gandhi Ji and other big leaders of the time all believed that India should give citizenship to persecuted religious minorities of Pakistan.”

The Prime Minister said, “The resolution of the new India has to be fulfilled by the youth. It is the youth that teaches us to not avoid problems, face them and solve them.”

He said the energy of youth will form the basis of change in the 21st century.

“We must always remember Swami Vivekananda Ji’s iconic saying ‘give me 100 energetic youth and I shall transform India’. Our energy, and passion to do something, is necessary for change,”Mr Modi said.

“The last time I came here, I had taken the blessings of Swami Atmasthanandaji. Today he is not physically present with us. But his work, his path, will always guide us in the form of Ramakrishna Mission,” he said.

The Prime Minister said, “Belur Math is no less than a pilgrimage, but for me, it is always like coming home.”

Earlier in the morning, Mr Modi joined prayers at Belur Math. (UNI)