The election strategist Kishore also requested non-BJP chief ministers to “save the soul of India” and take a stand against the controversial Act
New Delhi: On Monday Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said there should be a discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and if all parties agree, then Parliament too should hold consultations on the controversial legislation that has triggered nationwide protests.
Kumar, speaking in the assembly, also assured members that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would not be implemented in Bihar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had made his stand clear on the issue.
NRC and the new citizenship law have created fissures in the JDU, an ally of the BJP, with party vice-president Prashant Kishor publicly asking Kumar to do a rethink on support to the legislation.
“I want to make it very clear that JD(U)’s stance on NRC and CAA is of opposition. Check parliamentary standing committee’s record, first dissent note is of JD(U). Under what condition JD(U) supported the bill in both houses only Nitish Kumar can tell,” earlier Kishor said.
The election strategist Kishore also requested non-BJP chief ministers to “save the soul of India” and take a stand against the controversial Act.
“The majority prevailed in Parliament. Now beyond the judiciary, the task of saving the soul of India is on 16 Non-BJP CMs as it is the states who have to operationalize these acts,” Kumar said.
The Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar soon clarified that NRC would not be implemented in the state as he attempted to put to rest speculations raised by JD(U)’s support to the CAA.
Cornered by journalists who asked to know his opinions on countrywide NRC as envisaged by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Kumar quipped: “Kaahe ka NRC? Bilkul laagu nahin hoga” (NRC, what for? Will not at all be implemented).
The new CAA, which seeks to make religion the test for granting citizenship, has been dubbed as “discriminatory” by critics who feel it is against the Muslim community.
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