The Home Minister also admitted that there was a lack of communication from the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act. (File)
Amit Shah interview LIVE Updates: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said there had been no discussion on a nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) — two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi distanced his government from the exercise. “There is no need to debate this (pan-India NRC) as there is no discussion on it right now. PM Modi was right, there is no discussion on it yet either in the Cabinet or Parliament,” Amit Shah said in an interview with ANI.
The remark signals a U-turn on part of Amit Shah, who has made public statements about a pan-India NRC — as recently as earlier this month. The Home Minister also admitted that there was a lack of communication from the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act. “There may be a lack of communication, I have no problem in accepting that. But you can watch my speech in the Parliament, I have clearly mentioned that the National population Register would not affect anyone’s citizenship,” Amit Shah said.
The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal to update the National Population Register (NPR). The NPR exercise will require people to declare ‘date and place of birth of parents’ besides furnishing data on 21 points.
#WATCH Home Minister Amit Shah speaks to ANI on National Population Register, NRC/CAA and other issues. https://t.co/g4Wl8ldoVg
— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2019
Amit Shah interview LIVE Updates: The interview comes after the Jharkhand election results in which the BJP faced defeat from JMM-Cong alliance.
On detention centres in the country, Amit Shah said, "There is no connection between detention center and NRC or CAA. The center has been there for years and is for illegal migrants. Misinformation is being spread on this." He said since the Modi government came in, no such detention centres have been made in the country.
Speaking on the National Population Register, the Home Minister said it is possible that some names are missed in the NPR but the citizenship of people will not be revoked as this is not the process of NRC. "I want to make it clear that nobody will lose citizenship because of NPR," he said.
The home minister said that the government made peace appeals during the protests over the Citizenship Act protests. He also said that the protest call was given by the Opposition parties.
When asked if there was lack of communication from the government on CAA, the home minister said, "Kuch to khaami rahi hogi, mujhe sweekar karne mein dikkat nahi hai, magar Parliament ka mera bhashan dekh lijiye, usme maine sab spasht kiya hai ke is se kisi bhi minority ki nagrikta jaane ka sawaal nahi hai." (There may be a lack of communication, I have no problem in accepting that. But you can watch my speech in the Parliament, I have clearly mentioned that the NPR would not affect anyone's citizenship.)
On Kerala and West Bengal saying no to NPR, Amit Shah told ANI, "I humbly appeal to both Chief Ministers again, that do not take such a step and please review your decisions, don't keep the poor out of development programs just for your politics."
On Asaduddin Owaisi's criticism of CAA, Amit Shah said, "If we say that the sun rises from the east then Owaisi ji will say no it rises from the west, he always opposes our stand. Still, I again assure him that CAA has nothing to do with NRC."
"There is no need to debate this (pan-India NRC) as there is no discussion on it right now, PM Modi was right, there is no discussion on it yet either in the Cabinet or Parliament," Amit Shah said while blaming the misinformation on NRC for violence.
WATCH | Home Minister Amit Shah speaks to ANI on National Population Register, NRC/CAA and other issues.
Speaking to ANI, Home Minister Amit Shah said, "There is no link between National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), I am clearly stating this today." Shah's comments come amid the protests over NRC. Also, on Tuesday, the Cabinet approved a proposal to update the National Population Register (NPR). A budget of Rs 8500 crore has been allocated for the National Population Register updation exercise, PTI reported. The NPR exercise will require people to declare ‘date and place of birth of parents’ besides furnishing data on 21 points.