‘Hindus Will Be Affected’ NRC Won’t Be In Maharashtra: CM Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday once again reiterated his stand on the National Register of Citizens and said that this law would not be applicable in his state as it would affect Hindus as well.

In an interview with Shiv Sena editorial mouthpiece Saamana, Thackeray said that “NRC should not be implemented as Hindus will also be affected.”

However, he said he would continue to withdraw the Citizenship Amendment Act.

He insisted that he would ensure that NRC would not apply in Maharashtra.

Also Read: 31 People Have Died Due To NRC Fear In West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

Thackeray said in an interview with Saamna, “The CAA is not an Act meant to throw anyone out of the country. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has explained ample times that CAA is an Act meant to grant citizenship, not snatch it from anyone. This much, I too agree. But the elephant in the room is the NRC which will harass Hindus and Muslims alike. NRC will never get implemented, we will not allow it to be brought into force. That is because it will become a huge problem for Hindus as well as Muslims within the country. At least on that point, the law is secular, so to say.”

On Raut’s mention that 40% of the Hindu population would also fall into the NRC crosshairs, Thackeray said that the NRC would be uniform in the application, it is not partial for Hindu or Muslim.

Also Read: Sharad Pawar Doesn’t Behave Like Remote Control: Uddhav Thackeray

“The Muslims have taken to the streets with agitations, what if the Hindus take to streets too? In Assam, you have already seen that 19 lakh people have been marked out under NRC as people who must prove that they are bonafide citizens of India. Around 14 lakh out of those are Hindus. This law is a big issue in that state. Even the family members of some MPs and MLAs in that state have fallen into the NRC net, including some Army members,” the Maharashtra CM said.

Further reacting to Sanjay Raut’s suggestion that under NRC in Assam are bravery award-winning Army soldiers, some who have helped India win the Kargil War. Thackeray responded by saying, “Exactly! People must realise that the NRC if enacted, will put you and the elderly in your family too into those lines where you must prove your citizenship with documents in hand. And what about the Adivasis who live in jungles, mountains and valleys? From where will they bring their birth certificates? What if the Adivasis begin agitation? Hindus will be the most affected by NRC. But hang on, NRC is not the issue at the moment, no point setting the forest on fire for what is not an issue as yet. Pointless to agitate for or against NRC now, even those for it will suffer.”

Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray Opens Up About Split With BJP, Prospects Of Future Alliance

Thackeray is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi soon.

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