CAA not against Indian Muslims, Modi govt is for all: Minister

: Amid the ongoing protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Monday said the amended law is not against the Muslim community in India andthat the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre is for all.

Speaking at the second national conference of All India Working Journalists Association (AWJA) here, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment said development of Muslim community has been the stand of the Modi government even as he appealed to the community to stop their agitation against the amended law.

He said the Act was for minorities in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who face religious persecution.

"The Narendra Modi government is for all. The CAA is not against the Indian Muslim community. This law is (to provide citizenship) for persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who came to India before 2014, he said. "Therefore, I appeal to the Muslim community to stop the (ongoing) ...