Cong, BJP in fresh war of words over link between NPR and NRC
- Cong claims govt bringing NRC under ‘garb’ of NPR, slams Army chief’s remarks on protests against CAA
- The controversy began after the Union cabinet on Tuesday gave the go ahead for funding of the census and the NPR, to be conducted next year
The Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have locked horns over the National Population Register (NPR), even as the two parties continue to take each other on over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, (CAA).
The Congress on Thursday said the government was bringing in the controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the “garb” of NPR. The BJP denied the allegation, saying the two are not interlinked.
“This is a conspiracy under which the government is trying to bring NRC under the garb of NPR...if the government tries to link it (NPR) with NRC then the Congress will oppose it. We are asking the government to come clear on what exactly the NPR schedule is and how they are going to canvass the NPR,” senior Congress leader and former Union minister Ajay Maken said on Thursday.
The controversy began after the Union cabinet on Tuesday gave the go ahead for funding of the census and the NPR, to be conducted next year. Hours after the cabinet decision, Union home minister Amit Shah said the NPR is not linked to the NRC.
On Wednesday, senior BJP leader Ram Madhav reiterated the government’s stand. “The Prime Minister has made it clear that there is no link between the CAA or the NPR and the NRC. It is premature to discuss what will happen when NRC comes... so far, there has been no discussion on the NRC,” Madhav said in Srinagar.
Opposition parties say the government has previously referred to the NPR as laying the foundation of the NRC, as reflected in multiple replies in Parliament as well as in the home ministry’s annual report.
Meanwhile, Indian Army chief General Bipin Rawat stoked a controversy on Thursday when he criticized students for “carrying out arson” during anti-CAA protests. “Leaders are not those who lead people in inappropriate directions, as we are witnessing in a large number of university and college students and the way they are leading masses of crowds to carry out arson and violence in our cities and towns. This is not leadership,” Rawat said at a health summit in New Delhi.
His comments drew flak from Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left. “Such obnoxious interference in matters of democratic struggles from top ranking military professionals is unheard of in the history of independent India,” the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said.
Protests over CAA continued in several parts of the country. In Delhi, police detained 213 people outside Uttar Pradesh Bhavan for protesting without permission. In Assam, activist Akhil Gogoi’s home in Guwahati was raided by the National Investigation Agency. He was arrested earlier this month under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act amid protests over the new citizenship law.
“The Opposition was responsible for spreading misinformation and led the people of Delhi the wrong way after CAA was passed. The police of Delhi will do their work but there should be a government that will ensure peace in Delhi,” Shah said at an event in the national capital.
Security was beefed up ahead of Friday prayers in Uttar Pradesh, the scene of some of the worst violence. A home department spokesperson told PTI that 327 FIRs have been registered and 5,558 preventive arrests made, while 19 people died in the violence, which has left 288 policemen injured, including 61 who received firearm injuries. Mobile internet has been suspended across various parts of the state.
The state police conducted flag marches in Gorakhpur, the constituency of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, to maintain law and order.
PTI contributed to this story.
shaswati.d@livemint.com
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First Published:27 Dec 2019, 07:19 AM IST
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