No detention centre coming up in Maharashtra: Home Minister Anil Deshmukh

detention centre is coming up in Maharashtra in connection with implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Act and proposed NRC, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told legislative council on Thursday.

Deshmukh gave this information in a written reply in response to a question by Shar Ranpise (Congress). " detention centre is coming up anywhere in state in connection with rolling out of CAA and NRC," he told upper house.

However, in past Union home ministry asked state government to set up a temporary facility to house foreign nationals awaiting deportation, he said.

Union home ministry directed state, in a letter dated September 10, 2014, and a manual dated January 9, 2019, to set up a temporary detention centre for foreign nationals who have completed ir jail terms here and were waiting for deportation, Deshmukh said.

Those foreign nationals who have served ir jail sentences after conviction will be kept in such a detention centre until ir nationality is proved and y are deported," NCP minister said.

re are directives for constructing a temporary detention centre at Nerul in Navi Mumbai. government has also requested CIDCO (a state-run city planning ncy) to allot three acres of land for setting up a permanent infrastructure for same, Deshmukh said.

All three ruling coalition allies -- Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP -- have opposed proposed NRC (National Register of Citizens), an exercise that seeks to create a record of bonafide Indian citizens and identify illegal migrants.

However, last month government told Parliament it has t taken any decision on preparing a nationwide NRC. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has alrey said his government will t allow NRC to be implemented as it would "impact people of all religions".

But Thackeray, who is also Shiv Sena president, has supported CAA, which seeks to fast-track Indian citizenship for n-Muslim refugees who have fled Afghanistan, Banglesh and Pakistan because of religious persecution.

However, his allies Congress and NCP have opposed amended citizenship law, calling it discriminatory and violative of Constitution.

CAA and NRC measures, along with NPR (National Population Register), are facing opposition from various quarters, including some political parties. 

Im Credits: PTI