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By Shilpa Nair: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday lauded the BJP’s manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls, which, among other things, promised the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.
Himanta declared that the NRC should not just be limited to a particular state but implemented nationwide, stating that the Aadhar card, whose universal benefits have been touted by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre, is not a proof of citizenship.
“Based on Assam experience, a nationwide NRC is the need of the hour. Till today, we don’t have a national register of citizens. Aadhar is not an indication of citizenship. We don’t know if the country’s resources are going to a citizen or a non-citizen. I welcome the move of the Karnataka BJP announcing an NRC,” he said.
Eyeing a second consecutive term in Karnataka, the ruling BJP promised the rollout of the NRC “to ensure speedy deportation of all illegal immigrants in the state”. The saffron party’s other promises include the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as well as freebies like cooking gas cylinders, 5 kg of rice and Nandini milk to families below the poverty line.
“Announcement regarding UCC will go a long way in ensuring gender justice and equal rights for Muslim women. Karnataka BJP has made a bold commitment. This will usher a nationwide demand for implementation of UCC across the country,” said Himanta.
The Assam CM also blasted the Congress over its poll promises announced today. He said the Congress’s manifesto did not resemble a secular party’s and smacked of “communalism”.
In its manifesto, the Congress vowed to repeal all unjust laws and anti-people laws passed by the BJP government in Karnataka within one year if voted to power. The opposition party also equated the Bajrang Dal to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and promised to ban the right-wing outfit.
Reacting to this, Himanta alleged, “PFI is already banned. Siddaramaiah government withdrew cases against PFI leaders. Now, to appease Muslims, Congress is saying they will ban Banjrang Dal. The manifesto seems to be made by PFI and reflects they have sympathy towards PFI.”
He went on to ask rhetorically, “Where has the Bajrang Dal done bomb blasts or rioting? They [Congress] only want to take revenge on behalf of PFI.”
Himanta also hailed the BJP’s decision to do away with the 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in Karnataka as “historical” and panned the Congress for introducing the “unconstitutional” quota in the first place.
“Dr Ambedkar was against reservation based on religion. Congress has tried to kill the basic structure of reservation and the constitution by giving 4 per cent reservation to Muslims,” he said.
Election for the 224-seat Karnataka Assembly will take place on May 10 and the counting of votes will be held on May 13.
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