Union home minister Amit Shah, speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, said that “no document is required for the National Population Register [NPR]”.
Replying to Kapil Sibal’s question on what happens when the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is coupled with the NPR, Amit Shah said that no document will be required during NPR.
“If one doesn’t want to give certain information, no questions will be asked regarding that. There will be no doubtful citizen marking,” Amit Shah said.
Amit Shah said that under the NPR, it is being said that documents will be asked for, “but let me tell all, no documents will be asked for under the NPR”.
“Earlier also under the NPR no document was asked for and so will be the case this time as well,” Amit Shah said.
“Those who don’t have information to produce, for that we have clarified through a press release. Whatever information people want to give, they are free to submit,” Amit Shah said.
“I clearly once again say, under the NPR, no document will be asked for. You don’t have to provide any information you don’t possess. Lastly, nobody will be marked ‘doubtful’. Nobody needs to be scared of the process of the NPR in this country,” Amit Shah said.
Amit Shah alleged that it was the opposition who claimed that a person will be marked ‘doubtful’ but “so is not the case”.
“I am always ready for a discussion,” Amit Shah said.
Amit Shah on Hate Speeches
Amit Shah said that there was a spike in hate speeches in the country after the citizenship bill was made an Act. “The minorities, especially Muslims, were fed with fear that the CAA will revoke their citizenship,” Amit Shah said.
“I asked all ministers in the House to name one clause that would take away anybody’s citizenship since there is no clause that exists which can snatch away anybody’s citizenship,” Amit Shah said.
Amit Shah said that rumours were spread regarding the CAA among Muslims.
“I want to tell Muslims of India that don’t believe in rumours. The CAA is not a law that will take anybody’s citizenship away, but is a law which grants citizenship,” Amit Shah added.