Yechury tells Telangana CM, counterparts to not implement NPR

CPI-(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said his party appeals to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and or Chief Ministers in country to t implement proposed National Population Register (NPR).

Our Kerala Chief Minister has me that anuncement (t to implement NPR). In Bengal, Chief Minister me that anuncement. Similarly, our appeal is to or chief ministers, he told reporters. NPR would be a harassment of poor people as y would have to produce certificates, he alleged.

Raising a question mark on citizenship law, he said it was 'an inversion of principles of jurisprudence." What is justice? What is principle today? I am incent till proven guilty. What is logic y are bringing? I am guilty till I prove my incence. What is meaning of proving by getting all documents? I have to prove my citizenship," he said.

"rmally, I am a citizen till government proves that I am t a citizen. But, here, government says you are t a citizen. I have to prove that I am a citizen, Yechury said.

He claimed that government has directed six ditional questions to be asked, as per w proposed NPR, to existing 15 questions. ditional questions were about when and where citizens' parents were born, he said. local registrar would give his views on doubtful (D) category of replies and those in D category would have to produce documents that y are genuine citizens, he said.

He furr said efforts were on to bring toger parties opposing Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). On Friday, CPI-M leer alleged CAA, NPR and NRC were aimed at making India a fascist country and hence people should reject m. This is t a Hindu-Muslim issue. struggle is to save democracy, he said.