New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday finally broke his silence over the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests at Shaheen Bagh and Jamiaby saying that political designs were behind the protests.
He said that the anti-CAA protests are no coincidences but a conspiracy to divide India and ruin nation’s harmony.
“Protests against the Citizenship Act are going on in Seelampur, Jamia and Shaheen Bagh for the past several days. These protests are no coincidences. These protests are a conspiracy to divide India. There is a design behind it, which is going to ruin the harmony of the nation,” he said. The prime minister said while addressing an election rally in Delhi’s Karkardooma.
PM Modi asserted that if people protesting at Shaheen Bagh and other parts of the country were against the CAA then they would have called off their agitation after repeated assurances from the ministers. “But AAP and Congress are provoking people. Constitution and tricolour are being kept in front to caumaflage the real conspiracy,” said the prime minister.
While stressing on ‘housing for all’ and regularisation of unauthorised colonies, Modi said, “As long as it (AAP) stays in power, it will continue to create roadblocks to development. You have seen a lot. Now you are left with only one option. That’s why the BJP needs to come to power in Delhi.”
Blaming the AAP for blocking the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Delhi, Modi said it would continue to block all positive moves.
Modi reminded the people about the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. He also projected the Citizenship (Amendment) Act as an achievement.
To reach out to Delhi traders, Prime Minister dedicated a considerable amount of his speech to list out the BJP-led NDA government’s pro-trader initiatives, at a poll rally here on Monday.
“For the first time, IBC legislation was passed to give entrepreneurs the path to a respectable exit from business. For the first time, bank accounts of every farming family in the country received direct help. For the first time, farmers, labourers, and small traders got pension facility,” said Modi at the rally in Karkardooma packed with people.
Striking a cordial note, Modi claimed the BJP has a very close relationship with the Delhi traders. “It has always been the BJP’s endeavour to reduce the problems of traders and enable them to do their work freely,” he said.
Traders and businessmen who have been traditionally BJP supporters are believed to be unhappy with the party ever since the dual blow of demonetisation and hasty GST implementation. But on Monday, Modi tried to heal their wounds, saying his government has taken steps to ensure traders get easy loans at a fast pace and there is no dearth in cash flow.
Elaborating his claim, Modi said, “Till now small scale industries with a turnover of up to Rs 1 crore had to be audited. Now that limit has been increased to Rs 5 crore.” In an effort to win back their trust, Modi added, “This is an example of the government’s trust in the entrepreneurs of the country, millions of traders and traders of Delhi.”
He also spoke at length on how indirect tax settlement scheme was started by his government to address the concerns of the traders. He also stressed how a similar scheme is now planned for direct taxes as well.