Congress' Jairam Ramesh questions Shaheen Bagh protest, says its serving BJP's agenda

Senior Congress leer Jairam Ramesh on Thursday questioned ongoing protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Shaheen Bagh. Ramesh said that protests are serving BJP's "communal interest and also helped communal Muslim interests." He also mentioned that people in Shaheen Bagh, epicenter of anti-CAA protests, should agitate against National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) if y are worried that ir citizenship is going to be taken away from m.

Jairam Ramesh on Shaheen Bagh

Speaking to media Ramesh said, "I don't understand what Shaheen Bagh people are protesting about. Are y worried that ir citizenship is going to be taken away from m? That is a legitimate fear. n y should agitate against NPR and NRC. Why are y only agitating against CAA? I understand emotion and sentiments. Initially (protest) in four days, five days...but after a while, I think it served BJP's interest to keep Shaheen Bagh going, it served communal Muslim interests to keep Shaheen Bagh going. se protests helped BJP, but it also helped communal outfits."

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"Frankly, beyond a point of time, I did t go to Shaheen Bagh. BJP wants to exclude certain communities from CAA... BJP's policy is one of excluding Muslims. We want to include everybody. Tamils from Sri Lanka, Christians from Bhutan, Ahamedias from Pakistan... Citizenship should t be based on religion. That is our fundamental position because that was rejected by our Constitution makers and it violates Article 14 of our Constitution." Ramesh ded. 

Congress leers Shashi Tharoor and Mani Shankar Aiyar h visited Shaheeh Bagh in January to express solidarity with those protesting against amended citizenship act. Ramesh, however, hit out at BJP-led Central government for bringing amendments to Citizenship Act, claiming it was brought to divide people on basis of religion. Congress party's stand on amended Act was very clear, he said.

Congress party ended up securing zero seats in 2020 Delhi assembly polls, a repeat of its 2015 -show, following which significant infighting has broken out within party.

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(with PTI inputs)