No, chief minister

Mains Paper: 2 | Governance From UPSC perspective, the following things are important:
Prelims level: National Register of Citizens
Mains level: Insensitively implemented in Assam, extension of NRC to other states would only magnify a disturbing situation.

Introduction

• Honorable Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal has called for the National Register of Citizens to be extended to other states.
• There is no logical basis for broadening its scope, since the demographic change and social and political effects of large-scale migration across a porous border are not as keenly felt elsewhere.

What are the effects by implementing this?

• The only effect of CM Sonowal’s appeal, which he made at a seminar in Delhi, might be to turn a regional matter into a national issue for the general elections. 
• Moreover, his was not a standalone intervention.
• In the span of 48 hours, this was the third notable statement highlighting the NRC with a view to elections. 
• The day before, at the BJP national executive, party president Amit Shah had reportedly praised the work done by the Assam government and the Centre towards implementing the NRC.
• This is  the diametric opposite of the soothing noises emanating from the government, promising ample scope for citizens to establish their bona fides.

Lesson from Assam 

• The people of Assam have just cause to be sensitive to illegal immigration, and its government has a duty to address their concerns.
• However, the exercise is being conducted in an insensitive manner, and the extension of the NRC to other states.
• The public have not articulated anxieties about immigrants, would amplify a local embarrassment into a national disgrace.
• Giving people the right to prove their citizenship is not as large-hearted as it sounds, since they are presumed guilty until they can make their case. 
• Not everyone has the ability or the wherewithal to do that.

Conclusion 

• Apart from humanising the appeal process, the BJP must also try to be of one mind on the matter.
• It cannot have the chief minister of Assam giving assurances against summary deportation while office-bearers in Delhi threaten to deport ruthlessly. 
• Assam has many other problems besides illegal immigration, which the chief minister may wish to apply himself to, instead of offering the NRC to the rest of India.
• The nation has a surfeit of election issues, which demand the attention of the voters. 
• There is really no need to inflict yet another issue on them, especially one that has little meaning outside Assam.

UPSC Prelims Questions: 

Q.1)  With respect to the Preventive detention, which of the following statements is/are not correct?
1. The Constitution provides protection against arrest under a preventive detention law only to the citizens.
2. Both the Parliament and state legislatures can make a law regarding prevention detention.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer:  A

UPSC Mains Questions:
Q.1) What are the pros and cons if NRC will implement to others states like Assam?
 

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