Parliament Highlights: PM Modi Cites Shashtri, Lohia To Defend CAA

PM Modi said that a 1947 Congress resolution, passed with the aim of granting citizenship to the Hindus travelling to India from Pakistan, has used the word Non-Muslims.

"On 25 November 1947, the Congress Working Committee had passed a resolution. It says: "Congress is further bound to afford full protection to all those non-Muslims from Pakistan who have crossed the border and come to India or may do so to save their life and honor," PM Modi said.

"I don't think Congress was communal in 1947 and has turned secular suddenly.  You could've written all communities coming from Pakistan. Why did you use the term 'Non-Muslims'?" PM Modi added.

PM Narendra Modi cited former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and socialist leader Ram Manoha Lohia to defend Citizenship Amendment Act.

The Prime Minister, citing a quote from Lohia, said that the socialist leader had once said that concerns of any Hindu in Pakistan should be taken care of by India.

"Vaiko ji said 5 August 2019 was a black day for Jammu and Kashmir. Vaiko ji it was not a black day for J&K, it was a black day for those who promoted terrorism and separatism," PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Citing formation of Telangana, PM Modi said that his predecessor Manmohan Singh had criticised the protests that took at that time. "

PM Narendra Modi has started speaking in the Rajya Sabha. He says leader that Ghulam Nabi Azad made some irrelevant claims.

The Prime Minister said that the decision to scrap sections of Article 370 of the Constitution after due discussion in the Parliament. 

"Pandit Nehru himself was in favour of protecting minorities in Pakistan, I want to ask Congress, was Pandit Nehru communal? Did he want a Hindu Rashtra?," PM Modi  

"In 1950, the Nehru-Liaquat Agreement was signed for the protection of minorities living in India and Pakistan. Religious minorities were mentioned in this agreement. Pandit Nehru was such a big thinker, then why did he not include all the citizens there in the agreement instead of the minorities there? What we are saying today, was the same thing with Nehru ji," PM said. 

"Most people had said that Kashmir will be on fire if Article 370 is removed. We are being questioned for detaining some political leaders. On August 5, Mehbooba Mufti said that India has betrayed Kashmir and we would have been better with deciding otherwise in 1947," PM Modi said.

"Omar Abdullah said that removing Article 370 will separate Kashmir from India. Farooq Abdullah said that of Article 370 is removed then no one will unfurl the national flag in Kashmir. How can we side with them?" the PM said

"Much has been said about CAA, ironically by those who love getting photographed with the group of people who want 'Tukde Tukde' of India," PM Narendra Modi 

"Those who have been removed from office by the people of India are now doing the unthinkable. They see citizens on the basis of their faith. We are different. We see everyone as an Indian," PM added.

Those who are talking about respect for the Constitution never even implemented it in Jammu and Kashmir for so many decades. Who made Kashmir only about land grabbing? Who made Kashmir's identity only about bombs and guns? Can anyone forget that dark night of January? 

There were statements made by former Chief Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir that were unacceptable. These are leaders who don't trust Kashmiri people that is why they used such language, but we trusted Kashmiris and abrogated article 370

"Who brought the Emergency? Who trampled over the Judiciary? Who has brought the most amendments to the Constitution? Who imposed Article 356 the most? Those who did the above need to get deeper knowledge of our Constitution," PM Modi said 

"We have been listening to allegations and talks on 'Saving the constitution'. I agree, Congress should say this 100 times in a day. Maybe they will realize their past mistakes. Did you forget this slogan during emergency? When state governments were dismissed? When cabinet resolutions were torn?," the prime minister added.