NRC is a sinister and mischievous plan to divide India: Chidambaram

Congress leader P Chidambaram while addressing a press conference on Monday dubbed the National Register of Citizens as a 'sinister and mischievous plan' to divide the country. He also said there is a world of difference between the National Population Register of 2010 and the NPR of 2020.

New Delhi: Former Home Minister and Congress leader, P Chidambaram on Monday dubbed the National Register of Citizens as a 'sinister and mischievous plan to divide India.'

While addressing a Press Conference, Chidambaram said, "Under NRC every person residing in India has to prove that he is a citizen of India. It is a perverse burden of proof that was applied in Assam and a result of which 19,06,657 people were identified as illegal migrants or stateless persons. Most of them belonged to the poorest and vulnerable sections of society. No one knows what their fate will be."

Calling the act 'discriminatory and unconstitutional', Chidambaram questioned the government by saying, "The absurd and discriminatory provisions of CAA can be illustrated by two examples, while Hindus will be allowed, Sri Lankan Hindus who are mostly Tamils, will not be allowed. While Christians will be allowed Christians from Bhutan will not be allowed. Why?"

"As a result of the implementation of both NRC and CAA, the persons who will be directly affected will be Muslims of India. All other religious groups even if excluded under NRC, will be included under CAA. Only the Muslims will be identified as illegal migrants under NRC and excluded under CAA. Naturally, there is widespread fear and uncertainty among the Muslims of India," he further added.

While explaining about the difference between National Population register which came in 2010 and the latest one, he said, " NPR 2010 was conducted in a few States where there was no controversy about NRC and without the unhappy experience of Assam NRC. Secondly, there was no CAA looming large. Thirdly the NPR 2010 had gathered data in respect of only 15 fields."

"On the contrary NPR 2020 will be conducted all over the country and it will be done in the background of the disastrous experience of Assam NRC and discriminatory CAA. NPR 2020 will ask for information on the last place of residence, the place of birth of parents, voter identity, passport number, driving licence, PAN and Aadhar," he added.

While comparing both, he said NPR 2010 and NPR 2020 are like 'cheese and chalk.'

Also, read: We are descending into anarchy, says Chidambaram on JNU violence