Hindu, Sikh refugees protest near Kejriwal's residence, seek apology for 'anti-CAA' remarks

Scores of Hindu and Sikh refugees in Delhi staged a protest near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence seeking an apology from him over his statement against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

According to PTI news agency, the agitators tried to march towards Kejriwal's bungalow but were stopped by police.

"The Narendra Modi government is giving us citizenship while Kejriwal is asking who will give us jobs and houses. He does not understand our pain," Panjuram, one of the protesters, was quoted as saying.

The protesters said Kejriwal should withdraw his statements against the CAA and refugees, and tender an apology.

In response, Kejriwal on social media X claimed that while protesters were allowed near his residence, farmers were not allowed to even enter the national capital.

"Pakistanis are allowed to protest outside my house with full police protection and respect, and farmers of this country are not even allowed to come to Delhi? Tear gas shells, sticks, rods and bullets on Indian farmers? And so much respect for Pakistanis?" Kejriwal said in a post on X in Hindi. Hindu and Sikh refugees living in Rohini, Adarsh Nagar, near Signature Bridge and Majnu ka Tilla took part in the protest.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to settle poor people hailing from minority communities in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the country through the CAA and create a vote bank for itself.

He also alleged that those coming from Pakistan and Bangladesh and settling here will be given jobs and houses and that, in turn, will affect the locals.

The Centre implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, on Monday, paving the way for grant of citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014.

(With PTI inputs)

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