As Citizenship Protests Swell, Modi Minister Says No Pan-India NRC Announced By Govt

With citizens coming out on streets to protest against the Citizenship Law, the Narendra Modi government is looking at fresh approach to allay the fears of the agitators. Now, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that there has been no announcement made by the government to conduct nationwide NRC exercise anytime soon. The statement differs from what Union Home minister Amit Shah had said in Parliament. On November 20, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said in Parliament that the Nation Register of Citizens (NRC) would be prepared for every state in the country.

The government is keeping the timeframe of the pan-India NRC as vague as possible. The minister also stressed on the fact of immediate announcement rather than the eventual plan. “As far as NRC is concerned, it is limited to Assam. There is no plan of NRC in any other part of the country. You are talking about an unborn baby….,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Naqvi’s remark mirrors the fact sheet released by the government sources that also spoke about the status of NRC. The question number 5 of the fact sheet was – ‘By conducting NRC, will we be asked to present proofs of us being Indian?’. The answer of this question also highlighted on the NRC announcement.

“First of all, it is important to know that at the national level, no announcement has been made to begin NRC process. If it is implemented, it does not mean that anyone will be asked for proof of being Indian. NRC is merely a normal process to register your name in the Citizens’ Register. Just like we present our identity cards or any other document for registering our names in the voter list or getting Aadhaar card made, similar documents shall need to be provided for NRC, as and when it is carried out,” the answer said.

More than 19 lakh of the 3.29 crore applicants in Assam were left out of the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) that was published on August 31st to conclude a Supreme Court-monitored exercise. It took five years and ₹1,220 crore to conduct the mammoth exercise.