Modi defends citizenship legislation
NEW DELHI— Prime Minister-Narendra Modi of India delivered on Sunday a strident defence of a contentious citizenship law that has fuelled deadly protests, accusing opposition politicians of “spreading lies” and demonstrators of trying to destroy the country through vandalism and bloodshed.
During an often combative speech in New Delhi, Modi signalled that he would not scrap the law, which favours every major South Asian faith other than Islam.
Critics argue that the law is glaring evidence that the government plans to turn India into a Hindu-centric state and marginalize the country’s 200 million minority Muslims. Modi, in his speech, dismissed the notion that the law was discriminatory.
“Respect the Parliament!” Modi said to thousands of supporters. “Respect the Constitution! Respect the people elected by the people! I challenge the ones who are spreading lies. If there is a smell of discrimination in anything I have done, then put me in front of the country.”
During the past two weeks, hundreds of thousands of Indians have taken to the streets in opposition of the Citizenship Amendment Act, which the Indian Parliament approved this month. The protests have drawn people of all faiths, concerned that the law undermines India’s foundation as a secular nation. Around two dozen people have been killed in the increasingly violent protests and hundreds have been arrested.
The demonstrations are the most significant challenge to Modi’s leadership since his party rose to power in 2014.