After CAB, Prashant Kishor attacks BJP on nationwide NRC, calls it ‘demonetisation of citizenship’

On Saturday, Kishor said JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar is against nationwide NRC as it is “discriminatory” when implemented alongside Citizenship Act.

“Nitish Kumar is with the party’s (JD-U’s) earlier stand of saying no to NRC. NRC with CAB is dangerous. If there is no NRC, CAB per se is okay. The CM said CAB is a Bill to give citizenship, but if it is linked with NRC, it becomes discriminatory,” he told reporters after a meeting that lasted for two hours.

Since the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) was passed in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Kishor has been vocal about his apprehensions with the legislation. “Disappointed with the JD(U) whose constitution… carries the word secular thrice on the very first page and (whose)leadership… is supposedly guided by Gandhian ideals,” he tweeted.

Kishor had reportedly offered to resign during the meeting with Nitish Kumar. The chief minister, however, shot down the proposal. After the meeting, Kishor said his personal stand on the CAB remained unchanged.

Home Minister Amit Shah has aggressively advocated for implementing NRC across the country. He has also said the government would drive out all “illegal immigrants” before 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Supporting the CAB in both Houses, the JD(U) had said the Bill was not discriminatory, because it was not going to hurt Indian Muslims.

The Citizenship law will grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, Jains and Parsis who entered the country from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan until December 31, 2014. It leaves out Muslims.