President Kovind sidesteps NRC reference in Parliament speech, sticks to CAA

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Written by Ravish Tiwari | New Delhi | Updated: January 31, 2020 2:41:38 pm

Budget session 2020: President Ram Nath Kovind addresses joint session of Parliament on Friday. (Source: Twitter/@BJP4India)

In the backdrop of nationwide protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), President Ram Nath Kovind Friday sidestepped references to NRC in his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament at the start of Budget session.

His omission holds significance in wake of the fact that the President had announced Modi government’s decision to “implement the process of ‘National Register of Citizens’ on priority basis” in his address to the joint sitting at the inauguration of 17th Lok Sabha on June 20 last year.

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“Illegal infiltrators pose a major threat to our internal security. This is leading to social imbalance in many parts of the country, as well as putting a huge pressure on limited livelihood opportunities. My Government has decided to implement the process of ‘National Register of Citizens’ on priority basis in areas affected by infiltration. Security along the border will be further strengthened to prevent infiltration,” President had announced on June 20 last year while declaring the intention to “ amend the Citizenship Act”.