Amit Shah challenges Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav to a debate on CAA

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday challenged former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to a debate on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The Home Minister was speaking at the 'Jan Jagaran Abhiyan' in Lucknow on Monday when he said that the BJP was conducting this campaign was to dispel falsities that were being spread over the amended citizenship act. To do this, he challenged the three opposition leaders to a debate on the CAA.

"I have come to you for a Jan Jagaran Abhiyan in Lucknow. Our government is hardly 8 months old but we are conducting this campaign to dispell the falsities being spread by the opposition against CAA. I challenge Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav to engage in a debate on CAA," Amit Shah said while addressing the gathering at Lucknow.

He elaborated on his challenge by explaining that the unrest across the country was, in fact, being fanned by the opposition parties. "The CAA is not intended to take away the citizenship of anyone. The bill proposes to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities of three neighbouring countries," he explained.

In a complete mockery of the opposition politicians, the Home Minister said, "Modi Ji CAA lekar aaye, aur yeh Rahul baba and company, Mamata, Akhilesh Ji, behen Mayawati, saari ki saari brigade CAA ke khilaf 'kau kau kau' karne lage."

#WATCH Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Lucknow: Modi ji #CAA lekar aaye, aur CAA ke khilaf, yeh Rahul baba and company, Mamata, Akhilesh ji, behen Mayawati, saari ki saari brigade CAA ke khilaf 'kau kau kau' karne lage. pic.twitter.com/xMys1yiu3J

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For context, 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. 

Notably, 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.