Initially, the protests against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens broke out across the nation, the government had appeared to betray jitters
New Delhi: On Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked citizens to “show your support for the CAA”, leading a social media campaign in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act that suggested the central government was firm about enforcing it despite the widespread opposition.
“#IndiaSupportsCAA because CAA is about giving citizenship to persecuted refugees and not about taking anyone’s citizenship away,” PM Modi tweeted from @narendramodi_in and his personal website and linked the post to his mobile application, NaMo App.
Apart from @PMOIndia and @narendramodi, his two official Twitter handles, Modi has a personal Twitter handle, a personal website (narendramodi.in) and the mobile application.
“Check out this hashtag in Your Voice section of Volunteer module on NaMo App for content, graphics, videos and more. Share and show your support for CAA,” the tweet added.
Narendra Modi also tweeted from his official twitter handle a link to a video by Jaggi Vasudeva aka Sadhguru, requesting people to watch it, added that “he calls out the misinformation by vested interest groups”.
“Do hear this comprehensible explanation of aspects relating to CAA and more by @SadhguruJV. He provides historical context, brilliantly highlighted our culture of brotherhood. He also called out the misinformation by vested interest groups. #IndiaSupportsCAA,” PM Modi tweeted.
BJP too went on an overdrive to push the hashtag on Twitter, and it was soon trending on the social media platform. The party also tweeted a video of rallies held in support of the citizenship amendment in various parts of India.
BJP posted newspaper reports that said even people who had voted against the BJP in Uttar Pradesh supported the CAA.
The implicit message was about an alleged Hindu-Muslim divide on the matter, which Prime Minister had earlier tried to highlight with his claim that the violent among the agitators could be identified from their clothes.
Initially, the protests against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens broke out across the nation, the government had appeared to betray jitters.
PM Modi had claimed there had been no discussion on the NRC, belying home minister Amit Shah’s repeated assertions about carrying out a nationwide update of the citizens’ register.
Renewed push appeared on Monday to suggest the government was determined to implement the CAA and, BJP leaders said, the nationwide NRC in which Modi’s tweets did not mention.
BJP leaders claimed that feedback from the ground showed the “majority” (Hindus) supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act and only a section of Muslims opposing it, being “misled” by Opposition claims that it would cost community members their citizenship.
“Initially we were apprehensive since we didn’t expect such protests outside Northeast India and West Bengal. But the situation is now turning in our favour. We have been able to counter the Opposition with huge shows in support of the CAA,” a BJP leader said.
He claimed the anti-citizenship-act protests were helping the BJP consolidate Hindu support in its favour.
The latest push of Modi seemed to have been carefully crafted. It came a day after mainstream newspapers published an interview with law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, where he tried to allay fears over the NRC.
Prasad promised that a “proper legal process” would be followed during a countrywide NRC. He said the data collected during the impending National Population Register(NPR) update might or might not be used during the NRC exercise, appearing to contradict Amit Shah who had said they would not be so used.
The central government seems to be trying to counter and contain the agitation while signalling, at another level, its determination to implement the citizenship overdrive with the majority behind it.
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