Indian PM Modi tears into legacy of former premier Nehru, blasts Congress for anti-CAA protests

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched into an unprovoked tirade against former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru while speaking on the floor of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, reported news broadcaster NDTV. 

"For someone's aspiration to become the Prime Minister of India, a line was drawn on the map and India was divided into two. After the Partition, the way how Hindus, Sikhs and other minorities were persecuted is unimaginable," Modi said addressing members of the Congress party.

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"Congress is having problems when the government is taking decisions on wishes of the country's founding fathers," Modi noted, adding that  Congress was inciting protests against a citizenship law. "Protests won't impact any Indian citizen or harm minority interests," Modi maintained. 

The Citizenship Amendment Act fast-tracks Indian citizenship for non-Muslim minorities from three neighboring countries. It was passed by the Indian parliament last year and ratified into the Constitution after the signatures of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.  

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'Differentiate between Hindu refugees, Muslim migrants'

During his speech, Modi launched several other attacks against the former Indian premier. "In 1950, when the Nehru-Liaquat Ali pact was signed, it said that minorities won't be discriminated against in Pakistan. Why did Nehru not use all citizens, and not minorities?" he asked.

"Why did Nehru use minorities? He replied to this too, and I'd know you'd abandon him too, whenever the need arises. Nehru had written to Assam Chief Minister and I quote - 'You'd have to differentiate between Hindu refugees and Muslim migrants'. This is what Nehru wrote," Modi said. 

"In 1953, in the Lok Sabha, Nehru said 'in East Pakistan, authorities are pressurizing Hindus. There are documents and reports. In all these instances, was Nehru communal? I want to know? Did he discriminate between Hindus and Muslims? Did he want a Hindu nation?" Modi asked. 

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The jibes were apparently directed at the opposition Congress party that is led today by the descendants of the former Indian premier. "I want to clearly state that with the CAA coming, there will be no impact on any citizen of India of any faith," Modi said. 

"Those who have been removed from office by the people of India are now doing the unthinkable. They see citizens on the basis of their faith. We are different. We see everyone as Indian," the Indian premier said, hinting that the Congress was the one playing politics on the CAA.