This is PM Modi's first election rally in Delhi since he won the national elections earlier this year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the launch of the party's election campaign to launch a fierce attack on his critics, challenging them to "lay bare" before the country if any of his policies discriminated between people. "Stand up and respect parliament, respect the government elected by the people," he exhorted them from Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, about a kilometre away from Daryaganj in the old quarter of Delhi that was hit by violence on Friday during the protests against the amended Citizenship Act.
At the outset of his address - meant to launch the party's election campaign - the Prime Minister set the tone with a new slogan. "Unity in diversity is India's specialty," he said amid nationwide protests against the new citizenship law that was cleared by parliament next week.
This is PM Modi's first election rally in Delhi since he won a massive mandate for a second term in national elections earlier this year. The BJP is eyeing a comeback in the national capital after two decades. The Delhi state election -- likely to be held early next year -- will be the first major electoral test for the BJP in the wake of the mass demonstrations seen after parliament cleared the Citizenship Amendment Act on December 11.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act for the first time makes religion the test of citizenship in India. The government says it will help minorities from three Muslim-dominated countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan - to get citizenship if they fled to India before 2015 because of religious persecution. Critics say it is designed to discriminate against Muslims and violates the secular principles of the constitution.
The BJP plans to connect with three crore families over the next 10 days in an outreach effort. This will include several hundred rallies and more than 250 press conferences to clear "misconceptions" about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.
Here are the highlights of PM Modi's Ramlila Maidan Rally, Delhi:
Opposition leaders changed their stand overnight as their voters were in danger: PM
- Former PM Manmohan Singh said in the Parliament that we should provide citizenship to the refugees coming from Bangladesh who have been religiously persecuted.
- Assam's former CM and senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi had written letters to the PM to provide help for religiously persecuted minorities from Bangladesh.
- The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, too had supported citizenship for these refugees. He had even asked the Central Govt for providing better facilities to the Hindus and Sikhs that have come from Pakistan.
- They turned overnight. All the love and sensibility blew out of thin air. The votes were in danger and thus, these political leaders had to change their tune.
"Mahatma Gandhi had said that the Sikhs & Hindus living in Pakistan will always be welcome in India. This Act is in line with promise the Govt of India made in 1947. Now that we're fulfilling the decades-old promise, why are they protesting against it," says PM Modi.
"The Act will only apply to the people who've been living in India for several years now. No new refugee will benefit from the Citizenship Amendment Act," says PM.
"Some dalit leaders, too, have entered the muddle without even understanding. They need to understand that the refugees who have come from Pakistan are mostly dalits. These dalit people were employed as bonded labor in Pakistan.
"Girls are religiously converted and forced to marry in Pakistan. It is well-documented. It only happens because they follow a different religion. These people have come to India only due to such religious persecution," says PM Modi.
Citizenship Law, NRC will not apply to Muslims of the country: PM Modi
- I request the youth of the country to read the Act in detail and not to fall prey to the rumors of detention-centers being spread by Urban Naxals and Congress. It's a lie and is dividing the nation.
- The Muslims of India don't need to worry at all. The CAB and the NRC will not apply to the Muslims of the country. It's a white lie.
- It is shocking to see the kind of lies that are being spread. Some people are even saying that the CAB is against the poor people of the country.
"The 130 crore Indians have no connection to the CAB. A lot of lies are being spread about NRC as well. It was made during the Congress regime. Where were the protesters then? We did not make it, nor did we bring it to the Parliament or announce it," he says.
- The world's largest healthcare scheme is currently prevalent in India. It is helping over 50 crore poor people of India with free treatment worth Rs 5 lakh. For political interests, the Delhi Govt hasn't implemented the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
- The Govt has strived to reach every poor's house and help them via Ujjwala, Awas Yojana and free electricity schemes. We never asked for anyone's religion. Why are we being questioned then?
"I want to ask the people who're spreading false rumors about CAA, did we ask anyone about their religion or political beliefs when we took the decision to authorize the unauthorized colonies in Delhi?: PM Modi
Stand up and respect the Parliament: PM Modi's message to protesters
- The Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed for the brighter future of the marginalised.
- (To the crowd) You stand up and respect the Parliament
- Support them with full strength
"Earlier, those who were running the government gave complete relief to the people living in these bungalows, but did not do anything to regularize your houses and while I was doing it, I did not leave any chance of getting stuck on the road," he says
"With the help of technology, the work of marking the boundary of more than 1,700 colonies of Delhi has been completed in such a short time. Not only this, maps of more than 1,200 colonies have also been put on the portal," PM Modi says.
"Even after several decades after Independence, a large section of population in Delhi had to face fear, uncertainty, deceit and false electoral promises. Illegal, sealing, bulldozer and a cut-off date - life of a large population in Delhi' was confined around these words," says PM Modi.
- Ramlila ground has been witness to historic occasions.
- You all have benefited through PM Modi awas yojna
Delhi BJP leaders present the signatures of residents of unauthorised colonies who got ownership rights, to PM Modi. Over 40 lakh residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies in the national capital have benefited from the move, Delhi BJP leaders say.
BJP has collected over one lakh signatures from residents of unauthorised colonies. These signatures will be handed over to the prime minister as a thank you gesture for giving ownership rights.
More than two lakh people are expected at the rally. In a statement, senior BJP leader Vijay Goel said that the rally is being organised to thank PM Modi for giving ownership rights to 40 lakh residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies in the national capital.
The rally will be held at Ramlila Maidan, about a kilometre away from Daryaganj in the old quarter of Delhi that was hit by violence on Friday during the protests against the amended Citizenship Act.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister Nityanand Rai will be in attendance at the rally today