Confusion about CAA being spread at Shaheen Bagh: BJP

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23

The BJP today claimed that Shaheen Bagh had become “shame bagh”, where “grand confusion” is being spread about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

The party also hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his party for allegedly supporting protesters at Shaheen Bagh. While its Delhi Assembly candidate Kapil Mishra termed protest sites as “mini-Pakistan”, party spokesperson Sambit Patra likened the protesters to anarchists.

Mishra, who left AAP to join BJP, said the upcoming elections in Delhi would be a contest “on Delhi roads between India and Pakistan”.

“Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has given a statement that he stands with Shaheen Bagh. I want to say anarchists stand with anarchists...at Shaheen Bagh, grand confusion is being spread (about CAA),” Patra said, accusing AAP leaders of inciting violence in the national capital.

Senior BJP leader Vijay Goel, who also accused the AAP of running away from its responsibilities, questioned why its leaders have not gone to Shaheen Bagh yet.

“Shaheen Bagh has become shame bagh,” BJP leaders said, asking Kejriwal why he was not paying heed to problems of residents living near Shaheen Bagh like Sarita Vihar, Jasola and Madangir Khadar.

“Ambulances don’t go to these areas due to protests against the CAA and people have been facing a lot of problems,” Patra said.

Meanwhile, hitting out at parties supporting protests against CAA, BJP president JP Nadda said vote comes first for them and country later.

Slamming the Congress for backing the Shaheen Bagh protest, Nadda said in 2003, the then Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh, had urged Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani to grant citizenship to minorities in Bangladesh.