1 day ago
RSS Calls for Nationwide NRC Amid Census and SIR Debate
The RSS has asked the government to create a nationwide list of Indian citizens.
Its representative, Sunil Ambekar, said this could help check voter lists and confirm citizenship for some people covered by the Citizenship Amendment Act.
He said population changes could affect India’s security and cultural identity.
The request comes while India is carrying out a Census and discussing changes to voter rolls.
Some people protested against the CAA and a proposed NRC in 2019 and 2020.
The government has not announced a nationwide NRC at this time.
Census questions include information such as nationality and parents’ details.
Rules say population records can be checked when preparing a citizens’ register.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Sunil Ambekar called for a nationwide National Register of Citizens.
Ambekar said an NRC could identify people allegedly wrongly included on electoral rolls and support citizenship claims under the Citizenship Amendment Act.
He described demographic change as a matter of national security, cultural identity and national unity.
The call comes as India’s Census is underway and debate continues over Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
No government notification currently announces a nationwide NRC, although the Census framework allows links to citizenship verification.
- Who
- The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, represented by publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar.
- What
- The RSS called for a nationwide National Register of Citizens to verify citizenship and identify allegedly incorrect electoral-roll inclusions.
- Where
- At an event at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in India.
- When
- The call was made on Tuesday, during the ongoing Census and debate over Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- Why
- The RSS said identifying citizens would address population imbalance and protect India’s unity, integrity, security and cultural identity.
RSS position
Opposition and protest concerns
Nationwide citizenship register
RSS position
The RSS says an NRC is necessary to identify citizens, detect allegedly incorrect voter-list inclusions and address population imbalance.
Opposition and protest concerns
People opposed to the CAA and proposed NRC organized nationwide protests in 2019–20; the article does not specify their individual arguments.
Demographic change
RSS position
The RSS frames demographic change as an issue involving national security, cultural identity, unity and integrity.
Opposition and protest concerns
The article records that the issue had receded from the political agenda after protests, without detailing a competing explanation for demographic change.
Key facts
- Main demand
- A nationwide National Register of Citizens.
- RSS speaker
- Sunil Ambekar, the RSS publicity in-charge.
- Related exercise
- India’s Census is currently underway.
- Electoral issue
- The debate also concerns Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
- CAA connection
- Ambekar said people who came to India from neighboring countries under the Citizenship Amendment Act should have their citizenship ensured.
- Current government status
- There is currently no government notification announcing a nationwide NRC.
- Earlier protests
- The CAA and proposed NRC faced nationwide protests in 2019–20.
Quotes
Sunil Ambekar
RSS publicity in-charge who spoke at an event at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.
“For those who have come back, ensuring their citizenship through CAA is necessary. Identifying such people through the NRC is necessary. If people have been wrongly included in the voter list, it is necessary to identify them”
indianexpress.com
“Every nation has an identity. If the population of such people who consider the culture of the country as their own remains in equilibrium then the cultural identity of the country is preserved”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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