Amit Shah hints at some changes in Citizenship Act; but no sign of including Muslims

New Delhi, Dec 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hinted of tweaking the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and blamed the Congress for instigating violence in the North East.

The BJP president assured the people of the Northeast that their culture, language, social identity and political rights will be not be affected by the Act.

"I assure the people of Assam and other northeastern states that your culture, social identity, language and political rights will not be touched and the Narendra Modi government will protect them," he said.

He also lashed at the Congress, accusing it of stoking violence over the amended Citizenship Act.

He said the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has caused a "stomach ache" to the opposition party.

"We brought the amended Citizenship Act and the Congress got a stomach ache and is fanning violence against it," he said.

The BJP president assured the people of the Northeast that their culture, language, social identity and political rights will be not be affected by the Act.

"I assure the people of Assam and other northeastern states that their culture, social identity, language and political rights will not be touched and the Narendra Modi government will protect them," he said.

Shah said Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and his cabinet ministers met him on Friday to discuss the issue.

"Sangma ji and his colleagues said there is a problem in Meghalaya. I tried to make them understand that there is no issue. Yet, they asked me to change something (of the Act).

"I asked Sangma ji to come to me when he is free after Christmas and we can think constructively for a solution for Meghalaya. There is nothing to fear," he said.

Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi, Shah said the former Congress president is making "noises" and is ignorant of India's history as he has "Italian sunglasses" in front of his eyes.

"Even a district youth president of our party can give an account of the developmental work done during five years of the BJP-led rule in Jharkhand than what Rahul Gandhi's Congress has done during 55 years of its rule.

"Rahul Gandhi and Hemant Soren say why is Kashmir issue important in Jharkhand elections?... the youth of this state are securing the borders of this country. But, Rahul Gandhi does not know history as he has Italian sunglasses in front of his eyes," he said.

Shah also accused the Congress of "encouraging" Naxalism, "handing over" Kashmir to terrorists and dragging the Ayodhya issue for years.

The BJP president said while the Congress accuses the saffron party of being anti-Muslim, it is the NDA government that had brought the Triple Talaq Act.

Shah urged voters to return the BJP government to power in Jharkhand to "uproot" Left Wing Extremism from the state.

"The BJP-led government in Jharkhand has buried Naxalism 20 feet deep into the ground. To uproot it, re-elect the saffron party. Every vote will free the state from the menace," he said.

The Union home minister said the BJP would increase the reservation for OBCs without reducing that of SCs and STs.

He also offered puja at the Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar.

Giridih, Baghmara and Deoghar are going to polls in the fourth phase on December 16.