Congress questions CM Uddhav Thackeray’s stance on NPR-CAA
NEW DELHI : Questioning Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s stance on the National Population Register (NPR), Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari on Saturday, stated that Thackeray must be briefed on the 2003 Citizenship rules.
Reaffirming that NPR was the basis of NRC, Tewari added that once NPR was performed, NRC cannot be stopped. Taking a jibe its Hindutva ally, the Congress spokesperson also said that Thackeray must be reminded that religion cannot be the basis of religion.
After meeting PM Modi in Delhi on Friday, Thackeray held a press conference in which he maintained that the NPR was a regular exercise like the census and that a nationwide NRC would not be implemented.
However, after meeting Congress interim-chief Sonia Gandhi, Thackeray tweeted that the Maharashtra government would not allow NPR in the state if the new columns proposed in the NPR forms were found to be problematic after scrutiny. This is the first time that Shiv Sena has hinted at the possibility of not implementing the NPR.
Similarly, in the above-mentioned press conference, he observed that no individual needed to worry about the CAA as it was a legislation to give citizenship to persecuted minorities in neighbouring countries.
“We discussed CAA and NPR,” Mr Thackeray said, adding he has come to understand the role of the Centre in the NRC. “No one should fear CAA or the NPR. These are not going to throw anyone out of the country,” Mr Thackeray said. “Those who are provoking people in the name of CAA or NPR must fully understand the provisions.”
Mr Thackeray also refuted reports about rift among the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. “We will work according to our common minimum programme and complete the full term”, he said.
But post-Gandhi meet, Thackeray tweeted that the legislation ‘seems’ to not take away one’s citizenship. Moreover, he added cast aspersion over the implementation and practicality of the CAA.
In a tweet, Mr Tewari said, “CM Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules – 2003 to understand how NPR is basis of NRC. Once you do NPR, you cannot stop NRC. On Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he needs to be reacquainted with design of Indian Constitution that religion cannot be basis of Citizenship,” he said.
