- Title: India's two leading parties take Citizenship Act battle to next level
- Date: 23rd December 2019
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) SENIOR LEADER OF INDIA'S MAIN OPPOSITION CONGRESS PARTY, RAHUL GANDHI, SAYING: "You (Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi) could not provide employment (to the youth of India), you could not handle the economy, that's why you are hiding behind hatred. That's why you are trying to divide the people." KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (DECEMBER 23, 2019) (ANI - NO USE INDIA) PRESIDENT OF INDIA'S RULING BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY (BJP), JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA, LEADING A RALLY SUPPORTERS MARCHING NADDA WAVING AT THE CROWD VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT THE RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) LAWMAKER FROM RULING BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY, ROOPA GANGULY, SAYING: "The people who are non-vocally in support of the law are much more than the people who are in opposition to the law in the country. We have organised this march in peace to bring forward those people who are in favour of the law from different places." NADDA WAVING AT PEOPLE
- Embargoed: 6th January 2020 16:06
- Keywords: Bharatiya Janata Party Citizenship Amendment Act Congress India Muslims Narendra Modi New Delhi Rahul Gandhi refugees
- Location: NEW DELHI/ KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
- City: NEW DELHI/ KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
- Country: India
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002BB749JJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The two leading political parties of India, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and main opposition Congress Party, led massive events on Monday (December 23) to present their side of the new controversial citizenship law.
In capital city New Delhi, senior Congress leaders, including party president Sonia Gandhi, chiefs of various states ruled by the party, and former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, gathered at 'Rajghat' - a memorial dedicated to India's iconic freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi.
The leaders read the preamble of the constitution, which talks about making India a secular republic nation and secure all its citizens social, economic and political justice, liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith, and worship, and promote equality among the citizens.
At least 21 people have died during clashes with police as thousands of people came out on the streets in towns and cities across the country to protest, marking the biggest challenge to Modi's leadership since he first swept to power in 2014.
Meanwhile, in eastern Kolkata city, India's ruling BJP, took to the streets in a huge rally led by party chief Jagat Prakash Nadda. Party legislator Roopa Ganguly said, the rally was to bring forward those people who are in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act, who are much more in number than those in opposition but are not violent.
Modi's government says that the new law is required to help non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who fled to India before 2015 by providing them with a pathway to Indian citizenship. - Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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