NPR AKIN TO LEVYING TAX ON POOR, SAYS RAHUL
RAIPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday likened the National Population Register (NPR) and National Register for Citizens (NRC) exercises to demonetisation, and said they akin to imposing “tax” on the poor who don’t have documents to prove their citizenship.
“Whether NPR or NRC, it is a tax on poor people of the country… You understand demonestisation… it was a tax on poor people. They said that go to banks and give your money but do not withdraw money from your account. Entire money went to the pocket of 15-20 rich people. This (NPR or NRC) is the same thing,” Gandhi said, while addressing the media at the Raipur airport in Chhattisgarh.
“It is an attack on the people.” Earlier, Gandhi had said: “You know the condition of the country. What is happening in other states...? You all know the problem of farmers’ suicide, deteriorating condition of the economy, unemployment…I would like to say that without taking people from every religion, every caste, tribals, Dalits and backwards together, the economy of the country cannot be run.”
Gandhi also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “... India is reeling under violence; women are not allowed to roam freely on roads and the unemployment rate is at a 45-year high. But PM is not able to understand it. Apparently, he is not able to understand what happened and how it happened.”
“Rahul Gandhi is misleading the people. He is confused about the NRC and the NPR...,” said Gauri Shankar Shirvas, spokesperson for the BJP. Later in the day, Union minister Prakash Javadekar hit back at Gandhi saying: “...Corruption is the base of Congress’ politics and therefore any move which can end corruption is opposed by them.”