Kolkata

The Union Home Ministry has called an important meeting today amid the ruckus over the Citizenship Amendment Act. The National Population Register (NPR) is being discussed in this meeting. Census powers are joining the secretaries of all states, except Bengal. But politics is also continuing regarding this meeting. In writing on behalf of West Bengal, it has been said to boycott this meeting. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has been continuously protesting on the issue of NPR, CAA.

Before the NPR process starts, the Union Home Ministry wants to meet all the states and formulate a strategy. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla will lead this meeting. Chief secretaries and census directors will be involved on behalf of the state governments.

Mamata Banerjee is continuously opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Population Register. Amidst this protest, no officer from Bengal will attend this meeting. Recently, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to Bengal, Mamata Banerjee had told PM Modi that the Central Government would have to withdraw the CAA, NRC. Mamta has announced that this law will not apply in Bengal.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the objective of NPR is to create a database of comprehensive identity of the residents of the country. Demographic and biometric details will be included in this. This register will be made at the local, sub-district, district, state and national level under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. There is a provision for a fine of up to Rs 1000 for violation of the provisions of the rule.

On the one hand, tell that Bengal has said not to attend the meeting. On the other hand, Kerala has banned the process of NPR in the state. In the order issued by the state government, it has been said that action will be taken on whichever officer is found working on this process. However, Kerala will attend the meeting called by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Kerala has already passed the resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act.