New Delhi, December 16: A day after violence erupted at a couple of universities against the Citizenship Amendment Act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned arson of public properties. "Violent protests on the Citizenship Amendment Act are unfortunate and deeply distressing. Debate, discussion and dissent are essential parts of democracy but, never has damage to public property and disturbance of normal life been a part of our ethos," PM Narendra Modi said in a series of tweets. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Pleas on Violence Against Students at Jamia and AMU on Tuesday Only if ‘Rioting Stops’.

PM Modi also assured that no Indian citizen irrespective of his/her religion will be affected by the newly-passed Citizenship Amendment Act, adding that the legislation reflects India's "centuries old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood". "I want to unequivocally assure my fellow Indians that CAA does not affect any citizen of India of any religion. No Indian has anything to worry regarding this Act. This Act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India," he said. Jamia Millia Islamia University Vice-Chancellor Najma Akhtar Says Will File FIR Against Entry of Delhi Police Inside Campus.

PM Narendra Modi on Protests Against Citizenship Amendment Act:

PM Modi urged citizens to maintain communal harmony and peace, and not to believe in rumours. "The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised. We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance," he said in another tweet. "This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods," he added.

During protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act by students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University, unknown persons resorted to violence, burnt down four buses and vandalised over a dozen vehicles. Following the vandalism on roads, police entered the varsity campus and allegedly assaulted students. Police used batons and teargas shells to disperse the crowd inside the Jamia campus. The alleged intrusion by police into the Jamia campus triggered protests by students at educational campuses in several parts of the country.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 16, 2019 02:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).