Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday reiterated his Government’s decision not to support the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“Our BJD MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have made it clear that we do not support NRC,” Patnaik told reporters at the Naveen Niwas here.
On the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), he said, “It has nothing to do with Indian citizens as it only deals with foreigners.”
“I would appeal to our citizens to let peace prevail and not to indulge in rumour mongering,” he added.
Notably, on December 13, a Muslim delegation from Bhadrak, Baleswar and Jajpur districts had met Patnaik, who had assured them that the State Government would not implement the NRC.
The BJP on the other hand demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik clarify as to why the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would not be implemented in State.
“While many foreigners are residing in our country, there is no system to identify them. Thus, the Union Government has introduced the NRC for security of the nation. The BJD supported it in both the Houses of Parliament. Now, the Chief Minister has announced not to implement the NRC,” said BJP leader Kharavel Swain at a Press conference.
