In India—which has a history of partition on the basis of religion and ethnicity—concerns about mass migration, porous borders and terrorist infiltration have prompted successive governments to dabble in the idea of sifting out illegal residents.
But who is an Indian resident and who is an Indian citizen? Several prime ministers, including Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, have asked their home ministers, in vain, for an answer. So, when Home Minister Amit Shah rose to tell Parliament that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be implemented nationwide, he was not the first to do so.
While Shah had multiple points to defend the NRC, his bureaucrats and intelligence agencies perhaps did not tell him, at least in detail, why such an exercise had so far been unsuccessful.
Back in 2003, then deputy prime minister and home minister L.K. Advani told the consultative committee of the home ministry that his government was serious about implementing the Multipurpose National Identity Cards (MNIC) project. The objective was to prepare a National Population Register and a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).
A few years earlier, the Kargil Review Committee had recommended compulsory registration of citizens and non-citizens because there was illegal immigration. The Citizenship Act, 1955, was amended and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 were framed. The rules included the NPR, its implementation and how it would form the basis of the NRIC. The objective was to issue national identity cards to citizens and multipurpose residence cards to non-citizens.
There was initial resistance by several states, but a pilot project was soon launched in a dozen states. Bureaucratic hurdles and delays, however, dragged the project into the UPA government’s tenure.
This story is from the January 05, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 05, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Themes Of Choice
As Savvy Investors Seek New Avenues, Thematic Mutual Funds Are Gaining Popularity
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
