LUCKNOW: Terming the
National Register of Citizens (NRC) a completely ‘apolitical’ exercise, Union home minister
Rajnath Singh said that
NRC had in fact been a longstanding demand of the people of
Assam which the government has finally fulfilled.
“It is only a draft and not close to being final NRC. We will give ample time to file claims and objections. If people are even still not satisfied, they can approach the Foreigners’ Tribunal for settlement of any claims,” said Rajnath referring to reports of complaints of missing names and incomplete details pouring in.
“This is for the benefit of the people of Assam who wanted this for a long time. Some people are trying to create unnecessary fear but I don’t think there is any reason to fear NRC,” the Union minister said while speaking to media on Saturday in Lucknow. After inaugurating Gramin Bank of Aryavrat’s accident and disability insurance scheme on Saturday, Rajnath Singh said that India could easily be in the world’s top three economies by 2030.
‘BJP focus on inclusive growth’
I am not saying that previous governments didn’t do anything but the BJP government has focused specifically on inclusive growth, connecting every last person with the economy. In connecting people to the banking system, we managed to get so many accounts opened that India accounted for 55% of the total bank accounts opened across the world in one year,” he said.
The ruling BJP is being targeted by Opposition parties which are claiming that NRC is a bid aimed at expelling Muslims and linguistic minorities, largely Bengali-speaking, from Assam. Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has accused BJP of carrying out vote bank politics and had visited Delhi recently to seek support of other parties against NRC.
Rajnath, who also respresent Lucknow in Lok Sabha, arrived on a two-day visit to the city and will attend the foundation laying ceremony of some infrastructure projects.
Rajnath Singh (File photo)
