Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.,) clarifies his stand about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act [CAA,] 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC.)
On the 23rd of December, during a public meeting in Kadapa district, Jagan Mohan Reddy clarified his stand about the NRC by saying, “We will oppose the NRC. There is no question supporting the NRC. Our Deputy Chief Minister of Minority Affairs S.B. Amzath Basha discussed the NRC issue with us and issued a categorical statement that the State Government of Andhra Pradesh will not support the NRC at any cost. The State Government backs the statement of Deputy Chief Minister S.B. Amzath Basha on the issue.”
However, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) extended its support to the CAA, which promises citizenship to refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The CAA would provide citizenship to refugees from the aforementioned countries who are Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, Jains and Buddhists and have been residing in India since or before the 31st of December, 2014.
Jagan Mohan Reddy assured the Muslims residing in the State they do not have to fear as the State Government would never implement the NRC in the State.
After the Central Government introduced the CAA, it is trying to implement the NRC across the Country. According to the NRC, the Government of India (GoI) would release a list based on the citizens’ information registered with the Government to identify the citizens of India.
With the introduction of the CAA, which restricts citizenship to Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, the Muslim citizens of India are afraid of the NRC process.
According to the Muslims, the CAA is anti Muslim and with the implementation of the NRC, they are afraid they may be expelled from the Country. This is one of the major reasons the people of India are protesting against the CAA and the NRC, stating both of them violate the idea of secularism, which is a salient feature of the Indian Constitution.
However, the YSRCP Government supports the CAA and strongly opposes the NRC. Jagan Mohan Reddy assured the NRC would not affect the citizenship of the people residing in Andhra Pradesh.
Stay tuned for further updates.
