‘Shoot them at sight’: Junior Railway minister amid citizenship law protest
Parliament had passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, last week and it became an act after receiving assent from President. Since then, violence has been reported in various parts of the country.
People who destroy public property should be shot at sight, Union Minister Suresh Angadi said, outlining his prescription to minimise losses of the railways in violence over the contentious citizenship bill in West Bengal, northeastern states and elsewhere.
"...I strictly warn concerned district administration and railway authorities, if anybody destroys public property, including railway, I direct as a Minister, shoot them at sight," Suresh Angadi, the Union Minister of State for Railways, told news agency ANI. He was responding a question regarding the railways facing losses in West Bengal and other states due to the ongoing protests in the region.
The minister further asserted that it is taxpayers' money and to develop one train it takes years together.
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"If anybody throws stones at that time government should take stringent action like Vallabhbhai Patel. Local minorities, some communities are unnecessarily creating problems to destabilise the country's economy," he added.
Earlier today, speaking at an event in Delhi, Home Minister Amit Shah underlined that the Centre was firm on implementing the citizenship law that has led to protests in parts of Delhi and beyond.
"I want to say (to opposition) oppose politically as much as you want, but Narendra Modi government is firm and we will ensure that people who have been deprived of their rights for so many years will be given citizenship," said the Home Minister.
PM Modi, who was in Jharkhand for an election rally, sought to address concerns over the Citizenship Amendment Act and said it doesn't snatch away any right of the Indian citizen or causes any harm. He also accused the Congress of "spreading lies" about the citizenship act and "creating an atmosphere of fear for Muslims" in the country.
Parliament had passed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, last week and it became an act after receiving assent from President Ram Nath Kovind.
Since then, violence has been reported in various parts of the country over the citizenship law and after Sunday's police action against Jamia students, several university campuses have erupted in protests to express solidarity.
