PANJIM: Reiterating that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will not have any impact on Goans, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Tuesday urged political opponents and like-minded people not to create “confusion” and “fear” in the minds of public with regards to the new law.
While BJP MLAs are asked to create much needed awareness with regards to Act in their respective constituencies, the party has planned for a massive rally on January 3 in support of CAA.
Sawant on Tuesday chaired meeting of BJP MLAs, wherein various issues concerning the State including CAA was discussed.
Speaking to media persons post meeting, the Chief Minister said that BJP-led Goa government welcomes CAA and extends its full support to the new law. “Let me make it clear, that the law will have no impact on Goan citizens, especially Muslims need not worry at all,” he said.
He said recently a training programme was held in Mumbai, to brief the BJP leaders on CAA and State Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral attended the same.
“Central government has released a white paper on CAA. Cabral, who attended the training session explained in detail to our MLAs, what is CAA…whether it has any effect on Goans or Indians,” Sawant said adding the Act does not specify that citizenship of anyone will stand cancelled.
“Those who are refugees like Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and others, those who have come to India before 2014, the law has been amended to give them citizenship rights,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that unnecessary issue has been created and people are being misled.
“Those who have no knowledge about CAA are instigating the people. I appeal political opponents and like-minded people not to unnecessarily create confusion and fear amongst people about the law,” he said.
Sawant said the BJP will hold mass rally on January 3, to create much needed awareness on CAA. “Unless people know what exactly CAA is, people will continue to create confusion,” he said.
Responding to a controversy on National Population Register (NPR), Sawant said it is a confusion created my media itself by linking it to National Register of Citizens (NRC). “Centre is yet to take decision on NRC and NPR is a routine process, which is held every ten years. It’s a confusion that media has created,” he said.
Mass awareness programme will be held at Azad Maidan on January 3 on CAA, wherein MLAs have been asked to ensure that people join in large number.
