Why Amit Shah’s National Population Register is different from NPR of 2010
Ajay Maken, who was MOS (Home) in 2010 and was in charge of NPR then tells Tasleem Khan how a register of ‘usual residents’ in 2010 is being turned into the first step to a NRIC
The Government has tied itself up in knots on the NPR and the NRIC. By declaring that there would be no NPR in Assam because the state now has a NRC, the government has unwittingly acknowledged the link between the two. Ajay Maken, who was MOS (Home) in 2010 speaks to Tasleem Khan on the contentious issues. Excerpts from the interview:
Why was NPR initiated in 2010 ?
It was the NDA Government under Vajpayee Ji and Advani Ji which amended the Citizenship Act in 2003 and notified the rules for the NPR in December, 2003. The UPA went through it because it was innocuous and a register of ‘usual residents’.
What was the NPR then?
As I said, it was a register of residents who had lived at one place for the past six months and intended to live at the same place for the next six months. The definition of the ‘usual resident’ was given by the United Nations and the NPR was to be a local register of residents, not citizens. The questionnaire had a set of 14 questions and asked the respondent to spell out the nationality ‘as declared’ by them.
How is the NPR in 2020 going to be different?
Media reports and social media posts claim that this time people will be asked to mention the date and place of birth of both their parents. These reports also suggest that respondents will be asked to furnish their phone numbers, Aadhaar number, Voters’ID number and the Driving license number etc. These reports have not yet been denied.
Is the NPR the first step towards a National Register of Citizens?
The annual reports of the Ministry of Home Affairs have always maintained since 2014-15 that the NPR would be the first step to the National Register of Indian Citizens. The latest annual report for 2018-19 under Amit Shah as minister also makes the same point.
Isn’t Parliament’s approval or an ordinance required ?
Not really. No new law is required to change the rules. Any Under Secretary in the MHA can get the minister’s approval and get new rules notified in the Gazette. They may say one thing today and change the rules tomorrow.
It’s claimed that the Citizenship Act makes it mandatory for the government to prepare a National Register of Indian Citizens...
The Act of 2003 uses the word ‘may’. It said the government ‘may’ compulsorily register citizens and ‘may’ prepare a National Register of Citizens. The UPA government did not do it but as far as this government is concerned it is clearly determined to carry it out.
Why is the NRIC being opposed?
Because it is not inclusive but designed to exclude. Even in Delhi, there are lakhs of people like me whose parents were born in what is now Pakistan. If the government insists on documents to prove the place and date of their birth, it is not possible to produce them. While the rich and the powerful may still manage to get the documents, people on the margins and the minorities will find it impossible. Moreover, why should the government be interested in collecting details of your parents’ birthplace and date? Why your phone numbers?
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