Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Will think of implementi­ng NRC in state: CM Rawat

STATEMENT Says illegal migration is a serious issue due to the state’s internatio­nal border

- HT Correspond­ent

We will see that if it (NRC) is needed here or not. But yes, the talks about NRC in the country is very much justified. We would surely discuss it in the cabinet meeting. TRIVENDRA SINGH RAWAT,

Chief minister

DEHRADUN: Days after Haryana chief minister (CM) Manoharlal Khattar announced implementi­ng the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state, Uttarakhan­d CM Trivendra Singh Rawat has also said that “the state government would think of implementi­ng the NRC”.

Rawat made the statement while talking to media persons on the sidelines of an event in the capital on Monday.

“We will see that if it is needed here or not. But yes, the talks about NRC in the country is very much justified because for long, an intellectu­al section has been saying that many illegal migrants have come here. We would surely discuss it in the cabinet meeting before it is implemente­d,” he said, adding that “Uttarakhan­d being a border state with internatio­nal borders, illegal migration is a serious issue here.”

Earlier last year, Rawat had said that “Rohingya or Bangladesh­i, infiltrato­rs would be thrown out of the state.”

Meanwhile, reacting to his statement, the Congress has termed it as a “political gimmick.”

“The statement is just a political gimmick to divert the attention of public from real issues like, unemployme­nt, poor medical and education facilities among others. There is no developmen­t happening in the state under this BJP government and he is talking of implementi­ng NRC,” said Suryakant Dhasmana, state Congress vice president.

“If he (Rawat) is talking about NRC then he should also tell if the agencies has caught even 50 infiltrato­rs under his rule so that the public should know that it is a serious issue in the state,” said Dhasmana. “People are dying of Dengue in the state. He is not able to fight this outbreak and is talking of fighting infiltrati­on, which is laughable,” he said.

Prominent state based historian and Padma Shri Shekhar Pathak while speaking on Rawat’s statement said that “He is towing the lines of BJP government at the Centre.”

“It is a politicall­y motivated statement to support the agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamseva­k Sangh and the BJP. With NRC they are targeting a community by branding them as non-indians,” said Pathak. “If it is so then why are they lauding the Indian origin people contesting elections in countries like the US and the UK. Tommorow if those countries talk of ousting them, then what will they do?,” he said adding, “CM should first focus on the actual issues of the state like education, health, job before talking on NRC.”

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat at an event in Dehradun on Monday.
HT PHOTO Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat at an event in Dehradun on Monday.

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