A AKHTER / NEW DELHI
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday clarified that no document would have to be submitted for the NPR or National Population Register and no one will be declared “D” (doubtful).
Replying to a discussion on the Delhi violence in Rajya Sabha, Amit Shah said: “No document needs to be submitted. You can give whatever information you have and leave the other questions blank.”
As Congress leaders questioned whether “D” would be removed, the Home Minister replied: “No one needs to fear about NPR. No one will be marked doubtful in the updating process.”
He also asked the Leader of Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress, to visit him along with other opposition leaders to clarify doubts on NPR.
The opposition Congress was skeptical about the clarification. “It is not correct of the Home minister saying they will not be asking for these documents, what is the use of this exercise then,” questioned the party’s Kapil Sibal.
Several states, ruled by the opposition Congress, Left-ruled Kerala, Trinamool-ruled Bengal and even Bihar, ruled by BJP ally Nitish Kumar, have refused to carry out the NPR exercise, which has seen by many to be a precursor to the controversial National Register for Citizens (NRC), which has provoked protests nationwide along with the citizenship law CAA.
Those conspired for riots, irrespective of religion and party, won’t be spared.
Home Minister assured people that those who conspired for riots, irrespective of religion and party, won’t be spared.
The Rajya Sabha has taken up a Short Duration Discussion on the recent law and order situation in some parts of Delhi last month. Participating in the discussion, Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi of BJP accused the Opposition of making provocative speeches leading to serious law and order situation in the North-Eastern parts of the national capital.
He alleged that there was a planned conspiracy to create the law and order situation by misusing social media. Dr Trivedi said that the provocative speeches made by the Opposition leader in December had flared up the stage-managed agitation on the Citizenship Amendment Act. He said, no political leader from the Opposition asked for restraining while they initiated the call for agitation. Dr Trivedi said the Delhi Police did a commendable job in handling the situation within 36 hours.
Initiating the discussion, Kapil Sibal of the Congress charged the Delhi Police with failing in its duty to contain the violent incident. He said, people from the neighbouring Uttar Pradesh had joined the riots. Mr Sibal asked whey FIRs have not been filed against the leaders who made provocative speeches. Referring to the fundamental duty of promoting communal harmony and brotherhood among people, Mr Sibal asked as to how the government is trying to ensure the same.
Derek O’Brien of the Trinamool Congress emphasized the need for a deep reconciliation. He said, the government is only doling out political rhetoric to heal the deep scars inflicted in the minds of the citizens. The discussion is underway.