Maharashtra will go ahead with CAA, NPR, says Uddhav Thackeray after meeting PM Modi

[Pakistani Fighter]

Maharashtra will go ahead with CAA, NPR, says Uddhav Thackeray after meeting PM Modi
TNN | Updated: Feb 22, 2020, 08:32 IST

NEW DELHI: Disregarding protests from within the

Maharashtra
coalition, CM and

Shiv Sena
boss

Uddhav Thackeray
stuck to his guns that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as well as the National Population Register (NPR) will be implemented in the state, sharpening friction with coalition partners NCP and

Congress
.


“I had a good discussion with the Prime Minister over issues concerning Maharashtra. I also discussed the CAA, NPR and NRC with him. No one needs to fear CAA. The NPR is not going to throw anyone out of the country,” Thackeray told the media on Friday.

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The CM’s public assertion is significant as they came after his meeting with PM

Narendra Modi
and before he made a courtesy call on Congress chief

Sonia Gandhi
. Congress general secretary

Mallikarjun Kharge
, who is in-charge of Maharashtra affairs, had earlier taken exception to Thackeray’s statement about implementation of CAA and NPR in Maharashtra, saying such calls could not be taken unilaterally.


Thackeray said there was a detailed discussion on CAA, NPR and the National Register of Citizens. Modi has previously said that his government had taken no decision yet on the implementation of a nationwide NRC, as distinguished from the one in Assam.


Congress and Sena refused to confirm whether the divergence over CAA and NPR figured in Thackeray’s meeting with Sonia. Both sides seemed to sidestep the issue and deny there was a division. “There is no friction among the allies. We will run the government for five years,” Thackeray said after calling on Modi with his son and state minister Aaditya.


Kharge said the NPR issue would be taken up by the state-level coordination committee. He termed it a “courtesy meeting” and claimed the discussion between Sonia and Thackeray did not touch upon NPR.


The CM’s remarks, however, pose a challenge for the coalition as NCP and Congress have strongly opposed CAA and NPR. Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, who is from NCP, has assured anti-CAA protesters the law will not be implemented, and has opposed rollout of NPR in the state. On one occasion, he appealed to protesters by saying, “I have said multiple times that CAA and NPR will not be implemented in the state.” Congress has passed a resolution against CAA and NPR.


In his first meeting with Sonia after taking over as CM with Congress support, Thackeray is learnt to have assured the latter that the government would abide by the common minimum programme in decision-making and that the issues of CAA and NPR would be discussed in the state-level coordination committee.


Congress also seemed keen to avoid the impression of a rift. It released a photograph of the CM and Sonia exchanging bouquets, portraying the visit in a cordial light, the visual contrasting with the public divergence over CAA and NPR.

According to insiders, Congress has made it clear that being a national party, it takes stand on issues like CAA with a “national perspective” and a regional party can differ. “But a final decision of the state government will be taken by all the parties in the alliance,” a senior leader said.


Thackeray has taken the view that he will not support an NRC and that the Centre has also not given any indication that this is on the anvil. On CAA, his position is identical to that of Centre’s, ie, it does not threaten citizenship of any Indian national. On NPR, he has sought to counter apprehensions that questions like age and birth place of parents are a precursor to NRC, saying he will “vet” the queries on the NPR form. He has made it plain he personally does not find it problematic.


Sena’s stand puts it at odds with its partners, but might be driven by a desire to signal to its

Hindutva
base that it is not abandoning the basics — a decision that might be prompted by reports that its cadre has actively participated in pro-CAA rallies and mobilised with Hindutva sentiments.


“No one needs to fear about the CAA and the NPR. These are not going to throw anyone out of the country,” Thackeray said on Friday evening.


This was Thackeray’s first meeting with Modi after taking over as the chief minister following a stunning post-poll realignment.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

@jamahir @AfrazulMandal @The_Showstopper

 

[jamahir]

“No one needs to fear about the CAA and the NPR. These are not going to throw anyone out of the country,” Thackeray said on Friday evening.

The coming months will decide whether this becomes true or not.

Or whether the central government withdraws from the program.

 

[Nilgiri]

The coming months will decide whether this becomes true or not.

Or whether the central government withdraws from the program.

While you are being a cringey ***-kisser here on this forum stating such false equivalency "one or the other" choices....real muslims in the real world are doing their patriotic dutiful jobs like M Suleman and AB Gayoom:

Yes you will be sorely disappointed as expected when no Muslim citizen is "kicked out" of India but the program of securing India's citizen roll and accepting genuine religious refugees from the dastardly oppressive neighbourhood (with history of things like operation searchlight) continues.

 

[jamahir]

While you are being a cringey ***-kisser here on this forum stating such false equivalency "one or the other" choices....real muslims in the real world are doing their patriotic dutiful jobs like M Suleman and AB Gayoom:

So, real Muslims are only those who act against Muslim militants ?? What when the militants are from the Hindutva Right-wing ??

Yes you will be sorely disappointed as expected when no Muslim citizen is "kicked out" of India but the program of securing India's citizen roll and accepting genuine religious refugees from the dastardly oppressive neighbourhood (with history of things like operation searchlight) continues.

And what if a Muslim from a formerly Progressive country ( say Iraq ) wants to take refuge in India ??

Or even a Muslim from our own neighborhood ??

 

[namefield_empty]

And what if a Muslim from a formerly Progressive country ( say Iraq ) wants to take refuge in India ??

They can petition the GoI for refuge via the enactment of a seperate bill, not CAA which is for the persecuted minorities from our neighbouring countries that constituted pre-Partition India.

Or even a Muslim from our own neighborhood ??

Muslims oppressed for being muslims in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh where the state religion is Islam. Are you for real? Let those muslim Pakistanis and BDs say on record that they are persecuted on the basis of RELIGION, and i am sure GoI would pay heed to their pleas too, via a separate legislation.

 

[Dalit]

This is Modi's India where its own people are becoming stateless. Minorities are oppressed, lynched and raped on the spot. One Hindu nation has no place for others. Well done Modi. Breaking into your own house and setting the place ablaze. I like it.

 

[jamahir]

They can petition the GoI for refuge via the enactment of a seperate bill

1. Where will they live in the meanwhile ??

2. How long will the citizenship process for that individual take ??

not CAA which is for the persecuted minorities from our neighbouring countries that constituted pre-Partition India.

In other words, CAA is driven by religious zealotry and not by a sense of Humanist empathy.

Muslims oppressed for being muslims in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh where the state religion is Islam. Are you for real?

Like India, two of our neighbors ( Pakistan and Bangladesh ) don't really have Progressive political systems, therefore certain citizens there might run afoul of the government there or some predominant religious group.

For example, the Mukto-mona movement in BD has its members under threat of death.

Another example, Progressives in Pakistan like Arooj Aurangzaib or the SPA movement in Afghanistan.

 

[namefield_empty]

Where will they live in the meanwhile ??

2. How long will the citizenship process for that individual take ??

They have 10s of other muslim countries to choose from, the persecuted Hindus have only one. That is, if those from your progressive Iraq do decide to take shelter in a kaffir territory.

In other words, CAA is driven by religious zealotry and not by a sense of Humanist empathy.

Nah, friend. It was your muslim brothers from Pakistan and Bangladesh (along with their resident Indian counterparts) who partitioned the country on the basis of religion. And then drove the religious and ethnic minorities outta there. You are barking up the wrong tree.

 

[namefield_empty]

Like India, two of our neighbors ( Pakistan and Bangladesh ) don't really have Progressive political systems, therefore certain citizens there might run afoul of the government there or some predominant religious group.

For example, the Mukto-mona movement in BD has its members under threat of death.

I understand, but that doesn't fall under the purview of religious discrimination. The people who discriminate and those discriminated against are all muslims. Hope you get the drift.

 

[Politico]

1. Where will they live in the meanwhile ??

2. How long will the citizenship process for that individual take ??



In other words, CAA is driven by religious zealotry and not by a sense of Humanist empathy.



Like India, two of our neighbors ( Pakistan and Bangladesh ) don't really have Progressive political systems, therefore certain citizens there might run afoul of the government there or some predominant religious group.

For example, the Mukto-mona movement in BD has its members under threat of death.

Another example, Progressives in Pakistan like Arooj Aurangzaib or the SPA movement in Afghanistan.

They will live in India as refugees in the meanwhile.

The process ought to take as long as in any other third world democracy.

How can CAA be driven by religious zealotry when it attempts to address the inhumane situation minorities face in the Islamic majority nations of Bangladesh and Pakistan? In Pakistan for example, discrimination against minority religions are institutionalized and governed by legislation. In Bangladesh of past, religious persecution was the order of the day until the current government was elected. Why do you sugar coat the reality of your neighbors whilst painting the position as untenable and undemocratic in your country, ignoring the reality of what the factual position is.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

I think its time to Kick Hindus out of South Asia

 

[jamahir]

I understand, but that doesn't fall under the purview of religious discrimination. The people who discriminate and those discriminated against are all muslims. Hope you get the drift.

How can CAA be driven by religious zealotry when it attempts to address the inhumane situation minorities face in the Islamic majority nations of Bangladesh and Pakistan?

Why are only Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis and Christians being invited ?? Citizenship in India should be given to any person in the world who faces unrelenting bigotry and finds it difficult to live in their country because these persons were truly Progressive. For example, members of the Pakistani music band, Laal.

They will live in India as refugees in the meanwhile.

But where ?? In the airport ?? In a small house ??

 

[namefield_empty]

Why are only Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis and Christians being invited ??

Citizenship will only be provided to the documented and verified cases of religious persecution from neighbouring countries. There is no scope to provide blanket citizenship to anyone, be it the Hindus or other minorities in Islamic neighborhood countries. You beating about the bush trying to mislead people wouldn't change the facts.

But where ?? In the airport ?? In a small house ??

You care a lot about the Iraqis and Syrians who have nothing to do with India. Ever cared about the Chakma tribals who hoisted the tricolour in East Pakistan post independence and were rewarded by ethnic and religious cleansing in East Pakistan and Bangladesh as they remain stateless in NE India for decades. Don't you wish for them to become citizens of India. Please ask our Shaheen Bagh sisters about them.

 

[Nilgiri]

So, real Muslims are only those who act against Muslim militants ?? What when the militants are from the Hindutva Right-wing ??

Did I say only? They are example of some of the best obviously...since they actually put their lives on the line for defence of our nation, so you may live safely and gripe about anything that passes your fancy in comfort of your home.

Other real muslims don't while away their time presenting false absolutism narratives on forums like this one to pander to some sentiments....like if "govt doesnt drop it"..."we are to be kicked out"....as though this is all framed to kick muslim citizens or any citizens out.

Learn first thing about what the supreme court of India has said on all the matters....and what is being deliberated upon....and why nothing has been rejected prima facie...as it would have been if something is so plainly anti-constitutional like the hooligan mob claims and desperately wants to be true.

Reading half what you type here to your "buddies" who use you as some lackey for their own complexes....you are making it sound like there is a mob camping outside your place waiting for you to leave so they can kick you out or something.

And what if a Muslim from a formerly Progressive country ( say Iraq ) wants to take refuge in India ??

Or even a Muslim from our own neighborhood ??

Is CAA the only path to naturalisation? It replaces the older refugee and naturalisation law?

Refugees for other reasons are covered by existing naturalisation process. CAA is specific to the specific religious discrimination found in the two populated neighbours of ours...both institutionally set up to one religion. It would not be issue if they are foundationally and constitutionally secular too....they choose to double down on their stated partition reason, not us.

So please go to delhi slums and ask every minority that have fled Pakistan in recent times what they have to say about all of it first before you buy these brazen ulterior agenda narratives so cheaply.

You are going to have to actually watch Shekhar Gupta/The print on these matters (you have called them centrist) to even have a basis for debate with some basic confluence...rather than take position of emotional uneducated hooliganism of any side.....that too just because that narrative simply seems to carry intrinsically here of all places.