NPR IS NRC IN DISGUISE: SONIA
Terms citizenship laws discriminatory and divisive Cong: Withdraw CAA, stop NPR process
Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Saturday told a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting "not to be under any illusion that the National Population Register (NPR) is a benign exercise since in form and content, NPR 2020 is a disguised NRC."
She said the government had thought that the NRC (National Register of Citizens) exercise could be carried out throughout the country but it hit upon the idea of NPC after the disastrous results of the Assam NRC.
The Congress President said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was a discriminatory and divisive law with the sinister move to divide Indian citizens on religious lines and so she was happy the way thousands of youngsters, especially students, came out in protest throughout the country, realising the grave harm the CAA would cause.
"I salute their courage, their abiding faith in the value of the Constitution, and their determination to defend and protect those values. We are inspired by their struggle," she said, affirming that the Congress workers will stand shoulder to shoulder with them in their cause.
Sonia also referred to the police brutalities on the agitating students in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and many other places and demanded a comprehensive high-powered Commission to probe the incidents connected with the anti-CAA protests to provide justice to the affected.
She targeted Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah over the citizenship laws, accusing them of making "provocative remarks" on the subject.
Regretting that the government was digging in its heels as the student protest gained momentum, she said: "Not a day passed by without the Home Minister, and on some days the Prime Minister himself, making provocative statements.”
Sonia also spoke on the economy downslide causing untold miseries to practically all sections of society, people of Jammu and Kashmir continue to be denied fundamental rights, with even former chief ministers and senior leaders of mainstream parties continuing to be in detention, and the shocking development in the Gulf with the outbreak of hostilities between the US and Iran.
NEW DELHI: Congress on Saturday sought to withdraw the CAA and stop the process of the National Population Register (NPR) to end fear and anxiety in the country, especially among the religious and linguistic minorities.
In a resolution adopted at its 2-hour-long Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, it said the illconceived CAA has led to spontaneous nationwide protests and asked the government to address the protesters' legitimate apprehensions and concerns. The CWC expressed deep anguish over the insensitive response of the government and condemned the blatant use of state power to silence the voices of dissent.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was not present in the CWC meeting, but party chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala clarified he was travelling and would be available from Sunday morning for the party workers. Accusing the BJP government of using its brute majority in Parliament to impose this divisive and discriminatory agenda in an insensitive manner with the sole objective of polarisation, the CWC resolution said: “It may give short-term political dividends but will create deep fissures in society undermining national unity and social stability. That presents a serious challenge to internal security and makes India vulnerable to hostile external forces.”
CWC also accused the Modi government of “a designed conspiracy unleashed to attack the Centre of creative and independent thinking, ie colleges and universities, after realising that the students and the young cannot be divided through its sectarian agenda.” “Almost every institution in the country – from DU, JNU, Jamia, BHU, Allahabad University, AMU and many others have seen massive protests,” a CWC resolution said.
Noting alarming economic situation, CWC said India’s nominal GDP was at its lowest in 45 years as it was staring at a deepening economic crisis. The meet held the government guilty of “monumental mismanagement of the economy, inflicting long-term damage with arbitrary decisions of demonetisation and hasty imposition of a flawed GST model. The CWC called upon the government to reveal its roadmap for reviving the economy, investors’ confidence and job creation. It also accused the government of not believing in building a consensus to resolve various national issues, but follows a policy of imposition and confrontation. Noting that the shutdown of the Kashmir valley was now in the sixth month, it said it was unacceptable in a democracy.
CWC said the government makes hollow claims of normalcy and arranged guided tours of diplomats, but the Indian political leaders and MPs are denied the freedom to visit the Valley and meet the people. It called for lifting of the curbs and restoration of civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir. Through the resolution, the Congress reassured the people it remained conscious of its duty and was committed to defending their fundamental rights and upholding the foundational values of the Constitution.
Expressing deep concern over recent hostilities between Iran and the US, the CWC asked the government to put in place a well-thought contingency plan to meet the fallout on India’s energy security and the well-being of millions strong Indian diaspora working and living in the Gulf. It asked the government to engage in diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate the tensions.