Won't send anyone to Pakistan: Nitin Gadkari on CAA

A day after President Ram Nath Kovind signed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday reacted on the ongoing row on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said that the government is not against Muslims. Gadkari, blaming the opposition for stroking rest said, "Congress is trying to mislead the public on the issue of CAB, it is doing nothing but giving air to the already burning fire in the northeastern states."

New Delhi:Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday reacted on the ongoing row on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and said that there is nothing to worry. A day after President Ram Nath Kovind signed the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB), Gadkari said the government is not against Muslims and will ask nobody to go to Pakistan.

Gadkari, blaming the opposition for stroking rest said, "Congress is trying to mislead the public on the issue of CAB, it is doing nothing but giving air to the already burning fire in the northeastern states."

In an interview with ETV Bharat, the minister spoke about various crucial ongoing matters of the country.

Citizenship Amendment Bill

While supporting CAB amidst protest, he said: "Playing politics on the basis of fear is Congress' nature. There is no need for anyone to be scared, be it the Muslims or the people of the northeast."

"Citizenship Amendment Bill is the right thing for everyone and we will ensure that nobody is denied any rights after the implementation of the bill as an act," he added.

The minister said that the welfare of the country and politics should be kept apart.

"People of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and Christian communities who don't find a place in any other country will be given citizenship. We are neither against Muslims nor we're asking anyone to go to Pakistan. There's nothing to worry about. Rumours are being spread," he added.

Jharkhand elections

The minister who was seemingly confident about BJP forming government in Jharkhand, said: "The BJP does not run elections on the basis of caste, religion or any kind of communal politics. We do not believe in vote bank politics either. CM Raghubar Das has done a lot of work for the state."

He said that the BJP is responsible for the development of Jharkhand, as when it was separated from Bihar, its condition was not very good, but today, it is much more advanced than Bihar.

"The situation in Harayana and Maharashtra were very different. We are sure will win with a majority here," he added.

Maharashtra politics

When ETV Bharat asked about Maharashtra politics, Gadkari said the Shiv Sena can no more be called an honest party.

"This Shiv Sena is not BalaSaheb's Shiv Sena, it is not an honest party," he said.

He further added, "The Shiv Sena supported the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha and then differed in Rajya Sabha, this is not how an honest party works."

On the question that why didn't he try to save his government in the Maha elections as he did in the previous Goa election, the minister said that he works as per the instructions of his party.

"I am not an individual entity in politics, I have a party attached to my name. Wherever the party sends me, I go, it did not allow me to get into Maha chaos, so I didn't."

It is to be noted that Nitin Gadkari has good relations with the Thackeray family, and has been resolving issues between the BJP and the Shiv Sena for a long time now.

Rahul Gandhi

Gadkari also attacked Rahul Gandhi for his 'Rape in India' remark.

"Nobody takes Rahul Gandhi's statements seriously and therefore he feels free to speak as he likes."

He added: "The statement given by Rahul Gandhi, it is unfortunate not just for the country and the democracy, but for their party as well... He should take back his statement."

Political Alliances

Supporting his party, he asserted that, "BJP was a natural ally of Shiv Sena but was lured by the power at the last moment."

Gadkari also spoke about JDU and its alliance with BJP.

"JDU supported us on the CAB. There are minor differences between every party. BJP will continue to work on development politics, if we need support, we believe JDU will stand with us in Jharkhand too."

Read:|5 CMs not to implement CAB in their respective states