Published 10:36 IST, December 21st 2019
Prashant Kishor slams Congress leadership for its absence in protests against the CAA
Janata Dal (United) vice president Prashant Kishor slammed the Congress leadership on its absence in nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
On Saturday, Janata Dal (United) vice president Prashant Kishor slammed the Congress leadership on its absence in the nationwide protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. He was reacting to Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s video statement where she took on the BJP. Kishor contended that Gandhi’s remarks would be rendered meaningless unless the CMs of Congress-ruled states declared their opposition to the National Register of Citizens.
Opposition to CAA and NRC
Kishor has been vociferously speaking against the CAA and NRC. He even disagreed with his own party’s decision to back the legislation in the Parliament. However, party supremo and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made it clear that the NRC would not be implemented in the state. Moreover, other CMs such as Mamata Banerjee and Pinarayi Vijayan have gone ahead and even stopped the National Population Register (NPR) process, which is being perceived as a precursor to the impending nationwide NRC.
Sonia Gandhi slams Centre
Addressing the nation on Friday, the Congress president slammed the Centre for mishandling the situation in the country. She reckoned that it was the duty of the government to address the concerns of citizens. Contending that the BJP had used brute force, she added that the CAA and NRC were discriminatory legislation and would hurt the lives of the vulnerable sections of society.
Gandhi remarked, "There have been spontaneous protests at IITs, IIMs, and other leading academic institutions throughout the country against the divisive agenda and anti-people policies of the BJP government. It is the duty of the government to listen to the citizens and address those concerns. The BJP's brute force is unacceptable." She added, "The CAA is discriminatory and the proposed nationwide NRC [National Register of Citizens] will particularly hurt the poor and vulnerable."
Updated 11:24 IST, December 21st 2019