BJP attacks MVA on NRC, CAA; govt says focus on state issues
THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION, DEVENDRA FADNAVIS, RAISED THE ISSUE DURING A DEBATE ON BUDGETARY DEMANDS OF THE HOME DEPARTMENT
MUMBAI: The Maharashtra legislative assembly on Saturday witnessed uproarious scenes when opposition BJP raised the issue of the CAA, NRC and NPR.
The treasury benches objected to the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register being raised. The issues pending before the Supreme Court and falling under the Union government’s purview cannot be discussed in state legislature, they said.
Both sides traded charges and the Speaker ordered expunging of most of these remarks. Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis raised the issue during a debate on budgetary demands of the home department.
The CAA does not take away the citizenship of Indians, “but rumours are being spread about CAA,” he said. “In NPR, giving information is optional. The Prime Minister has said the NRC is not being implemented,” Fadnavis said.
Home minister Anil Deshmukh said the BJP leader should speak on budgetary demands. Minority affairs minister Nawab Malik said Fadnavis had said during the winter session that issues under the Centre’s purview should not be discussed in the House.
Speaker Nana Patole adjourned the House for 30 minutes when members from both the sides rushed to the well and traded charges.
Later, Patole said objectionable references made by MLAs of both sides will be expunged and matters pending before the Supreme Court will not be discussed.
Fadnavis said he raised these issues because there was a lot of unrest about the CAA.
Former student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University Umar Khalid made a provocative speech in Maharashtra asking people to show their strength during US president Donald Trump’s visit, the BJP leader alleged.
He demanded that the cabinet sub-committee appointed by the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government to study CAA and advise it should clear misconceptions about the CAA.