'Mughal Raj coming back to Delhi': BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Shaheen Bagh protests

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya made the comments while participating in a debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

"New India cannot be built without healing the wounds of the past," the young BJP MP reminded as several members of the opposition raised a furore over his "Mughal Raj" comment regarding the anti-CAA-NRC protests at Shaheen Bagh.

Surya reiterated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government's stand by reasserting that the CAA does not take away anyone's citizenship but it was "about giving citizenship to persecuted minorities in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan".

Further, he praised PM Modi for resolving several critical issues that had been pending for several decades such as the abrogation of Article 370, construction of Ram temple, solving Bodo problems and abolition of "triple talaq".

Major controversies have erupted over the anti-CAA-NRC protests at Shaheen Bagh in recent times.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday suspected that after February 8, the government may use force to clear out the Shaheen Bagh stretch, where demonstrators have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for nearly two months now.

While speaking to news agency ANI over the phone, Owaisi was asked if there are any indications from the government which suggest that after February 8, Shaheen Bagh will be cleared.

To this, the AIMIM replied, "Might be they will shoot them, they might turn Shaheen Bagh into Jallianwala Bagh. This might happen. BJP minister gave a statement to 'shoot a bullet'. The government must give an answer as (to) who is radicalising."

Further speaking about NPR and NRC, Owaisi said, "Government must give a clear cut answer that till 2024 NRC will not be implemented. Why are they spending Rs 3900 crore for NPR? I feel this way because I was a History student. Hitler during his reign conducted census twice and after that he pushed the jews in a gas chamber. I don't want our country (to) go in that way."

Several members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have recently targeted the anti-CAA-NRC protests led by Muslim women at Shaheen Bagh, calling them a conspiracy by the opposition.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday alleged that the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) that have been going on for over a month now, is actually a conspiracy in the national capital by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, too, had said, "Those at Shaheen Bagh are raising 'Azaadi' slogans. I want to ask whom they want 'Azaadi' from? The anti-CAA protest at Shaheen Bagh is not spontaneous. It is being funded by political parties. The rights of 200-300 anti-CAA protesters are not bigger than the rights of lakhs of Delhiites who are facing trouble due to blockade of road. We will not allow 'tukde-tukde gang' to break this country again."

Challenging CAA critics to point out a section of the CAA that proves that it will lead to the loss of citizenship of an Indian, Prasad said, "Anti-CAA protesters and Leftists speak about Constitution and carry Indian flag but are working at the behest of those who want to break our country, we will not let this happen."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that CAA just a fig leaf to protest against Article 370's abrogation, Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the abolition of triple talaq. He further asserted that Arvind Kejriwal does not have the guts to speak against Shaheen Bagh protesters and he is using it to play politics in the national capital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, too, had hit out at the alleged 'political design' of the opposition behind the Shaheen Bagh protests.

Several petitions have also been filed at courts of law against the blockage of the Kalindi Kunj road on account of the ongoing anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh.

One such petition, filed by Delhi-based advocate and activist, Amit Sahni at the Supreme Court, highlighted that the daily commuters are facing great hassle while traversing the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch due to the blockage of the road that has witnessed a sit-in by protesters for more than 30 days now.

The petition urged the Supreme Court to take cognizance into the matter and issue specific directions for the removal of the blockage of the stretch of road due to the protests.

The Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch of road no. 13 A in the national capital has been closed since December 15 last year after protesters occupied the road following the police action on Jamia Millia Islamia students on the campus.

The protest, led by women, has become an inspiration across the country with similar protests erupting in various cities as part of a larger movement against the CAA-NRC.  

The new law promises citizenship to members of 6 non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India before December 31, 2014. Massive protests have erupted across the country against the new law. 

Massive protests have erupted across the country against the new citizenship law. Critics say that the new law is against the secular nature of the Indian Constitution and clubbed with the NRC may be misused to strip away some Muslims' citizenship in the country. The BJP, however, has argued that the law has nothing to do with India's Muslims and only helps those who fled religious persecution in the neighbouring countries.