Congress misleading Muslim community on CAA: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
Bengaluru, Dec 22: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday accused the Congress of inciting violence by misleading the Muslim community over the CAA as it was 'unable' to accept the "phenomenal rise" of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stature.
The Citizenship Amendment Act was all about giving citizenship to six religious minorities of the three Islamic Republics of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and not take away the citizenship of anybody in India, he told a press conference here.
The arrogant Congress, which thinks that ruling the country is its birth right, cannot accept the phenomenal rise of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stature. Hence, the Congress is misleading the Muslims community on the issue of CAA. But this won't work, he said.
Rejecting criticism against the law, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said This (CAA) is inclusive and is in right spirit of Sabka Saath; Sabka Vikas; Sabka Vishwas. But the Congress and the Left Parties, TMC and some so-called intellectuals have raised a hue and cry over a non-issue."
Joshi challenged Congress to prove one negative point in the newly-enacted CAA and claimed that none of its leaders, either in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, could raise any substantial and logical issues over the legislation.
The law had been enacted specifically to those six religious minorities who are persecuted on religious grounds in the three neighbouring countries, he said in apparent reference to questions why Muslims had not been included under its ambit.
"In those three countries, Muslims are not religious minorities and they are not persecuted, Joshi explained.
The minister said anybody from any part of the world can apply for Indian Citizenship which would be taken up for consideration under the existing Indian Citizenship Act of 1955 but not under CAA.
Singer Adnan Sami, writer Tasleema Nasreen and 500 Muslim families have been given citizenship under the 1955 Act. Naturalisation is yet another process through which one can obtain citizenship.
"But the only reason why Congress party is inciting violence by provoking Muslim Community is because of its frustration, Joshi alleged.
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Excise policy 'scam': HC asks CBI, ED to respond to Sisodia’s pleas for bail
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response of the CBI and ED on former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s pleas seeking bail in the corruption and money laundering cases lodged in relation to the alleged excise policy scam.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sisodia’s pleas challenging a trial court’s April 30 order by which his bail petitions were dismissed.
The high court listed the matter for further hearing on May 8.
Sisodia, in an interim application, urged the court to continue the trial court’s order allowing him to meet his ailing wife once a week in custody, during pendency of his pleas.
As the counsel for the ED submitted that the probe agency has no objection if the trial court order is continued, Justice Sharma allowed the request.
The trial court had dismissed Sisodia's bail pleas in the corruption and money-laundering cases lodged by the CBI and ED respectively in connection with alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy for 2021-22.
