Here's Why Uddhav Thackeray Supports CAA, But Won't Allow NRC, NPR

Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has said that he was not against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act but would not allow the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or National Population Register (NPR) to be implemented in the state. In a interview to party leader and Saamana editor Sanjay Raut, Uddhav Thackeray defended the amended citizenship law saying "it does not take away citizenship rights from anyone".

Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena is part of the 'Maha Vikas Agadi' government in Maharashtra. Its allies Congress and Nationalist Congress Party are against CAA, NRC and NPR.

दै. सामनाचे कार्यकारी संपादक संजय राऊत यांनी घेतलेली मुख्यमंत्री उद्धव ठाकरे यांची ही मुलाखत प्रसरित होतेय 3,4 आणि 5 फेब्रुवारीला. ही संपूर्ण मुलाखत https://t.co/fmd1gD2biy वर पहायला मिळेल pic.twitter.com/oOaTLbOKyM

— Saamana (@Saamanaonline) February 2, 2020

"The CAA is not a law which throws anyone out of the country," the Chief Minister said in the promotional video clip of the interview uploaded on Twitter. He said he would, however, not allow the NRC exercise to be carried out in Maharashtra because "Hindus would also find it tough to prove their citizenship".

"According to the National Register of Citizens, not just for Muslims but it will be tough for Hindus as well to prove citizenship. So I will not let that (NRC) come here," said Thackeray.

Shiv Sena had backed the Citizenship Amendment Bill when it was tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2019. However, the party did not back the Bill in Rajya Sabha and Sena MPs, including Raut, walked out ahead of the voting.