The Government Committed on Citizenship Bill - PM Modi at a Rally in Jammu

Prime minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in Vijaypur in Jammu region praised a controversial citizenship bill pending in Parliament and said that his government would stand with the children of "Maa Bharti" who have faced persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

The bill, which passed the lower house of Parliament earlier this month, would give citizenship to some Hindus, Jains, Parsi and several other non-Muslim religious groups from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This initiative was a part of the BJP government effort to promote India as a sanctuary for persecuted Hindus globally.

However, there have been protests against the bill especially in the northeastern region. But Modi in a rally said that they are committed and will stand by those who were part of India at one time, but got separated from us due to partition in 1947.

He also alleged the Congress for not paying attention to our brothers and sisters when in power. Supporting the bill Modi further said, " we have brought the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill with a commitment... If they are discriminated on the basis of faith, the country will stand up with them".