Rajnikanth Backs CAA, Says NPR A Necessity To Find Outsiders

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth on Wednesday backed the controversial citizenship act saying that the new law won’t affect any Indian citizen. He also extended support to the National Population Register (NPR) calling the exercise a necessity. “Citizenship Amendment Act will not affect any citizen of our country, if it affects Muslims then I will be the first person to stand up for them. NPR is a necessity to find out about the outsiders. It has been clarified that NRC has not been formulated yet,” news agency ANI quoted Rajnikanth as saying.

The new citizenship law came into force in India last December amid protests in India and around the world. Modi government has stressed that the new Act does not deny any citizenship rights but has been brought in to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries and provide them citizenship.

According to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and face religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

Earlier, Rajnikanth expressed concerns over the ongoing violent protests against the law. He had urged the people to stay united and vigilant for the security and welfare of the country.

Rajinikanth took to his official Twitter handle saying, "Violence and rioting should not become a way to find a solution for any issue. I request the people of India to stay united and vigilant keeping in mind the nation's security and welfare. The ongoing violence gives me great pain."