New Delhi: CPI MP Binoy Viswam has given to the Rajya Sabha a notice for alleged breach of privilege by Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of misleading the House by making contradictory statements on the creation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), causing ‘anguish and anxiety’ among people.
Listing instances of Shah allegedly stating that the scheme of a NRC would be implemented countrywide and then going back on it, Viswam, in a letter to the Rajya Sabha secretary general, has said such statements were a breach of privilege.
In his letter, he said Shah, in a reply to a question in the Upper House November 20, 2019, had stated that the NRC would be re-implemented in Assam when it is implemented across the country, ‘thereby indicating a plan for the implementation of a nationwide NRC process’. Shah repeated this on the floor of the Lok Sabha December 9, 2019, Viswam added.
The Left leader alleged Shah made similar statements at least nine times in both houses of Parliament as well as on several public platforms.
In an interview December 24, Shah however, backtracked on his earlier statements after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said December 22, 2019 that the government has not yet taken any decision on the implementation of a nationwide NRC, alleged Viswam.
“This sort of back and forth statements by the home minister on the implementation of the NRC are causing anguish and anxiety among the citizens of India who are already disturbed by the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA),” Viswam said in the letter.
“Such contradictory statements are a clear breach of privilege and an attempt to mislead both Houses of the Parliament and the people of India. These misrepresentations by the home minister pose a threat not only to the Constitution of India but also to the safety and security of the people,” Viswam added.
He also urged the Rajya Sabha Secretary General to take notice of this breach of privilege and begin proceedings in this regard.
PTI