Why non-BJP parties are against NPR?
New Delhi, Dec 26: First the CAA followed by NRC and now the NPR is being now used to create confusion among the people of India. The intentions of those who are debating the National Population Register (NPR) are seemingly malafied and smack of a certain conspiracy to further divide the Indian society.
The NPR is done routinely to understand the socio-economic situation and accordingly plan schemes to ameliorate the condition of the people of the country. But the debate on NPR with a certain intention is unfortunate.
This being the routine exercise to generate the database of the people living in this country and that included those foreigners temporarily residing or plan to reside for more than six months.
There are changes in population figures and this very routine. Deaths, births, migration, etc. are some of the factors that affect the population data and it becomes imperative for the planners to know the exact number of people so that they can formulate and execute schemes for the welfare and development. To know this, the exercise of NPR is conducted at an interval of every five years.
Earlier, in 2010, the NPR was conducted preceding the 2011 census when the UPA led Congress government was in power. It may be recalled that the 2010 NPR helped in preparing the 2011 census. These figures were updated in2015 NPR. But at that time no one opposed the NPR. Why? Why they are opposing now?
The data collected through the NPR is used to draft policies and formulate schemes. In India we have some nomadic tribes; there are a thousand others who only thrive on sugarcane harvesting, and there are some two crore beggars. They are all temporary and nomadic people but nevertheless they are Indians too and they should also get the benefit of the welfare schemes. Internal security is also a sensitive issue that requires a timely review.
The NPR data was updated in 2015 after the Modi government came to power. Now it is being updated again ahead of the 2021 census. This is mandatory at the interval of every ten years. NPR will be done on the basis of the Citizenship Act and census will be done as per the provisions of the census act. It is obvious that the 2015 database must have undergone extensive changes and it is necessary to know the exact figure of our populations besides the social, economic, gender ratios.
The most vital question is why the Trinamool Congress government of West Bengal headed by Mamta Banerjee and Left Government of Kerala are opposing this NPR and refused to implement it in their respective states? The Central Government had issued the notification for NPR on July 32, 2019 well before the CAA and NRC controversy. Yet the Congress-ruled states are also opposing its implementation. Why?
Congress rules in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Puducherry and now there are additions of Maharashtra and Jharkhand to this list. These governments have not yet decided on implementing the NPR the Congress is maintaining a conspicuous silence on the issue.
The Government has time and again explained that there is no relation between the NPR and NRC and that the NPR database will not be incorporated in the NRC. Yet the opposition leaders are spreading rumors on this issue by saying that NPR is the first step towards NRC. Why? Under whose instructions they are indulging in this dangerous game?
It is absolutely wrong and illogical to oppose this because it is done by the Modi Government. This exercise is done to know the socio-economic situation of the country and to make schemes and draft policies to better the condition of the people. Politics has its own place and importance but it should not become an obstacle in the process of development and interests of the people.
All the political parties must keep this in mind. If they indulge in projecting the laws meant for the welfare of the people, then they are not just blocking the future of their parties but also causing irreparable damage to the entire society.