Uddhav for CAA, NPR, Pawar disappointed

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, February 18

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray today told mediapersons that his government would not block data collection for the National Population Register (NPR) in Maharashtra.

Addressing a press conference at Sindhudurg, Thackeray said the NPR was very different from the National Register of Citizens (NRC). “The NPR is different from the NRC. It is part of the census. It happens every 10 years,” Thackeray said. The CM, however, said his government would not support the NRC. “Not just Muslims, but Hindus and even Adivasis will suffer if NRC is implemented,” Thackeray said.

The CM further added that he would “personally check the columns” in the NPR to allay fears of the people. Thackeray further added that implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act would not affect anyone in India. “No one has to worry if the CAA gets implemented,” Thackeray said.

Shortly after Thackeray’s press conference, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said he would discuss the matter with the CM so that all three parties that are part of the Maharashtra Government take the same stand. “We will convince the Sena,” Pawar said.