CAA is not law a to take away citizenship, it is law to grant citizenship : PM Modi

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Belur Math in Kolkata on January 12, 2020, on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Jayanti and National Youth Day. He also interacted with the monks at the Math. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that for the countrymen coming to this holy land of Belur Math is no less than a pilgrimage, but for him it was always like coming home. Feeling privileged for spending the night at this holy place, he said and added that the identity of all the gurus including Swami Ram Krishna Paramahamsa, Maa Sarada Devi, Swami Brahmanand, and Swami Vivekananda could be felt here.

Recalling his previous visit, when he had taken the blessings of Swami Atmasthanandaji, the Prime Minister said that he was shown the way of public service by the Swami. “Today he is not physically present, but his work, his path, will always pave the way for us,” he said.

The PM said that he got a chance to spend a few moments between the young brahmacharis present there and found that he had the state of mind of the brahmacharis once. He added that most of us are drawn here because of the thoughts of Vivekananda, the voice of Vivekananda, the personality of Vivekananda. But after coming to this land, Mother Anna Sharda Devi’s Anchal gives us a mother’s love to settle down, he said.

“Knowingly or unknowingly, every youth of the country, are part of the Vivekananda’s resolve. The times have changed, the decades have changed, the century has changed, but Swamiji’s resolve was to inspire and awaken the youth,” the PM added. To the youth of the country, who think that they can’t change the world by doing it alone, the Prime Minister gave a simple mantra, “we are never alone”.

The Prime Minister said that the experience of the last 5 years shows that the campaign to connect with the youth of the country is sure to succeed. He said that till 5 years ago, there was a disappointment whether India can be clean or not, and can the spread of digital payment in India could be increased so much. But the youth of the country took command and the change is visible, he added, according to a PIB release. He said that passion and energy in youth is the basis for changing India in this decade of the 21st century. Youth confronts the problem, solves it and challenges the challenge itself.

On National Youth Day, the PM felt that it is his responsibility to convince every youth, satisfy them about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and clear the confusion in their minds. He clarified that the Citizenship Amendment Act is not a law to take away citizenship, it is a law to grant citizenship. Citizenship Amendment Act is just an amendment, to ease granting citizenship of India, for those who were tortured, oppressed, due to their religious faith in post-partition Pakistan. Many leaders including Mahatma Gandhi also endorsed this then. Apart from this, even today, a person of any religion, whether or not he believes in God… whoever believes in the Constitution of India, can take citizenship of India under the prescribed procedures.

The PM said that his Government has also made provisions for the adverse effect on the demography of the North East due to the Act. Despite such clarity, some people are constantly spreading confusion about Citizenship Amendment Act for their political reasons. He said that if not for the controversy sparked by this amendment in the citizenship law, the world would not even know what crimes have been committed on minorities in Pakistan. This is a result of our initiative that now Pakistan will have to answer why in 70 years you have committed this crime with a minority there.