Strongly defending the new citizenship law, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday the dispute that has arisen over it has made the world aware of persecution of religious minorities in Pakistan. He, however, deplored that a section of the youth is being “misguided” over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which is aimed at giving and not taking away anybody’s citizenship rights.
“CAA is not about taking away citizenship, it is about giving citizenship. Today, on National Youth Day, I would like to tell this to the youngsters of India, West Bengal, North East that this is not an overnight law for giving citizenship.
“We must all know that any person of any religion from any country of the world who believes in India and its Constitution can apply for Indian citizenship through due process. There’s no problem in that,” he told a gathering at Belur Math, the headquarters of Ramkrishna Mission.
PM Modi said that some people with political interests are deliberately spreading rumours about the new citizenship law.
Lauding the youth for speaking against religious persecution of minorities, the prime minister said the energy of the country’s young will form the basis of change in the 21st century.
PM Modi renames Kolkata Port Trust after Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee
Prime Minister Narendra Modi renamed Kolkata Port Trust after Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee - an Indian politician, barrister and academician, who served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet. He made this announcement while addressing people at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Kolkata Port Trust's 150th anniversary celebrations. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who was expected to attend the event has however skipped it.
"Kolkata Port is the symbol of India's industrial, spiritual and self-independence. When this port is entering in its 150th year, it is important to make it a symbol of making of new India. On this occasion, I announce to rename the port after Syama Prasad Mukherjee who has been the pioneer of India's industrialization," he said.