New Delhi: Underlining that the majority community of the country made India a secular nation, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said, "Indian Muslims are safe and their all rights are intact" in the country, hence no one should worry on account of the newly amended citizenship law.
"Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) merely clears the road for giving Indian citizenship to the minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh," the minister said, adding that it's optional for the minorities in these countries.
In case they are fine there, there's no need to come to India, he said.
Naqvi was addressing the National Commission for Minorities here on the occasion of Minorities Rights Day.
"India is secular as the majority community - Hindus - chose it that way. It's their culture. No Indian Muslim has ever felt outsider in the country. They have worked for the development o the country along with others," the minister emphasized.
He appealed to people not to believe rumours and maintain peace. He strongly criticised the political opponents of the ruling dispensation for allegedly conspiring to create an atmosphere of fear and myth with regard to the CAA and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens.
"It's a conspiracy. A lie always gets exposed," he asserted, requesting people not to pay attention to rumours.
There have been nationwide protests against the newly amended citizenship law and students of various universities along with others have been opposing it. The union government has made appeals to them to maintain peace, saying it was ready to listen to the grievances if there are any.
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