'NRIC' on Hold?

Sabrangindia

MHA submits before Lok Sabha that no decision has been taken to prepare a National Register of Indian Citizens, contradicts Amit Shah's previous declaration.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO: 22
ANSWERED ON: 04-02-2020
National Register of Citizens
Chandan Singh

Nama Nageswara Rao Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state.

(a)  whether the Government has any plan to introduce National Register of Citizens (NRC) all over the country;
(b)  if so, the reasons therefore along with the time line fixed for implementation of NRC in the country;
(c)   whether the Government is aware that NRC will put extra burden on Indian citizens;
(d)  whether all the State Governments are being taken into confidence before introduction of NRC; and
(e)  whether the Government has received any communications from the State Governments regarding their refusal to implement the NRC in their respective State if so, the details of such State-wise communications received?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO 22 FOR ANSWER on 04-02-2020
(a)  Till now the Government has not taken any decision to prepare National Register.
In yet another twist in the ongoing citizenship related debate, the government has now submitted before the Parliament that as of now there are no plans to prepare a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). This is noteworthy, because just after the Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed in Parliament, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had ominously stated, "NRC is coming".

Shah had, in November 2019, told the Rajya Sabha, "The Assam exercise was carried out under a Supreme Court order. NRC will be carried out across the country, will be done in Assam again at the time, no one from any religion should be worried".

But in light of a submission made by his own ministry in Lok Sabha one wonders if Shah had misled the Parliament then, or has the government changed its mind in wake of the burgeoning nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). The government that was previously giving the impression that the NPR was the same as the Census, has now stated that providing information for NPR is voluntary.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was responding to questions raised by TRS's Nama Nageshwar Rao in the Lok Sabha. Minister of State in the MHA Nityanand Rai responded in writing stating, "Till now, the government has not taken any decision to prepare National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the national level". The submission may be viewed here:

In a related matter, the MHA also submitted that no detention camp had been constructed in Assam to exclusively lodge people who can't provide documentary proof under NRIC. But bizarrely in response to a subsequent question conflates Assam's NRC with NRIC that applies to the rest of the country! The MHA says those unhappy with the rulings during the claims process can appeal against it before the designated Foreigners' Tribunal (FT). But the functioning of FTs is only related to Assam's NRC and so far, they have nothing to do with NRIC, which as per the MHA the government has no plans to initiate at the moment. This makes one wonder if this is an attempt at deliberate obfuscation.

Government of India
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO: 30 ANSWERED ON: 04-02-2020 Detention Centres Pradyut Bordoloi
Will the Minister HOME AFFAIRS of be pleased to state:

(a)  whether the Government has constructed detention centres/camps in Assam to detain those who don't have documents proving their citizenship under NRC;
(b)  if so, the details of the location and capacity of these centres/camps and the expenditure involved, district-wise;
(c)   whether the Government is considering to reverify certain percentages of the population under NRC in districts bordering Bangladesh;
(d)  if so, the details thereof; and
(e)  the steps proposed to be taken by the Government once the NRC list is finalized post review appeals by individuals with a time line for the same as well?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 30 FOR 04TH FEBRUARY, 2020 REGARDING DETENTION CENTRES.

(a)&(b): As per the information received from State Government of Assam, the State Government has not constructed any detention camp in Assam exclusively to detention those who do not have documents proving their citizenship under National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).

(c) & (d):—An Interlocutory Application (IA) was filed in the Hon'ble Supreme Court W.P.(C) No. 274/2009 praying for a sample re-verification of a limited percentage.

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Vol. 52, No. 35, Mar 1 - 7, 2020