‘There Are No Detention Centers In India,’ Says PM Modi in Delhi

“Some political parties are spreading rumours, they’re misleading people & inciting them,” PM Modi said.

File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

(Photo: PTI)

Amid elaborate security arrangements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started BJP’s campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on Sunday, 22 December, at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan.

Speaking about the protests against the Citizenship Act, Modi said that Opposition parties are trying to create panic among citizens.

‘Congress & Urban Naxals Spreading Lies About CAA’

While speaking about the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Modi said that “few” political parties are resorting to rumour-mongering in order to create panic among citizens.

(Image: The Quint)

“Some political parties are spreading rumours, they’re misleading people & inciting them. I want to ask them, when we authorised the unauthorised colonies, did we ask anyone their religion? Did we ask which political party they support? Did we ask for documents from 1970, 1980?”

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

(Image: The Quint)

Further targeting the Opposition, the prime minister said that the Congress party and “Urban Naxals” are spreading rumours about detention centres. “These are only lies... lies and lies,” he said.

'When We Authorised Colonies, Did We Ask Anyone Their Religion?’

(Image: The Quint)

“Congress and its friends, some urban naxals are spreading rumours that all Muslims will be sent to detention centres. Respect your education, read what is Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC. You are educated.”

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

‘A Refugee Never Hides His Identity’

(Image: The Quint)

Pointing out the difference between an infiltrator and a refugee, the prime minister said that an infiltrator never reveals his identity and a refugee never hides his identity. “Many of these infiltrators are coming out and speaking. Why don't they speak the truth? They are scared that their reality will come out,” he added.

Criticises Kejriwal Govt in Delhi

Speaking about the authorisation of unauthorised colonies, the prime minister took a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi, saying that the Kejriwal-led government politicised the issues of people.

“They had illegally given 2,000 lavish bungalows to their people. No one knows what was given to whom in lieu of that,” he said.

(Image: The Quint)

Earlier in the day, outside Ramlila Maidan, music and dhols were heard, reported The Quint’s Aishwarya S Iyer.

Delhi Police Advisory for Rally

Delhi Traffic Police had released an advisory ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s rally at Ramlila Ground.

Security Arrangements Heightened

(Image: The Quint)

The police has employed area sanitisation, meaning that the movement of locals will be restricted, shops will be closed and security personnel will be deployed.

Apart from this, traffic police personnel were also deployed along the route to be taken by the prime minister, the official said.

According to sources, senior officials remained in a huddle till 5 am on Saturday, 21 December to discuss the security arrangements.

In the meeting, among other things, it was decided that social media should be monitored to stop rumour-mongering, especially in the wake of ongoing protests against the contentious legislation.

Checking of vehicles has been stepped up on border areas to ensure that "unscrupulous" elements do not enter the national capital to disrupt the rally, the sources said.

The Delhi Police is in close touch with the SPG and the Bharatiya Janata Party for the security arrangements during the programme. The Delhi BJP has also deployed volunteers as part of its security arrangements for the rally.

(With inputs from PTI)