I would be the “first person” not to sign the National Register of Citizens (NRC) if the Modi government implements it, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said while speaking on the occasion marking one year of the Congress government in Chhattisgarh.
“Now they have brought the new citizenship law. All of Assam is burning. Its effects are being felt in West Bengal, in Assam, in Uttar Pradesh. It’s spreading like fire. And (Home Minister) Amit Shah says this is the beginning and they will implement NRC. When they do this, what will happen if you sign the register? They will certify if you are Indian. If someone doesn’t have land, or someone is old, or isn’t literate, how will they prove they are Indian? And if they can’t prove, where will they send (them)?” Baghel said.
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“Today I want to say from this stage on the 150th anniversary of Gandhiji that during the time of the Britishers, Gandhiji refused to sign the register and recorded his protest. I want to say from this stage that if they implement NRC, I will be the first person not to sign the register. Why should I prove I am Indian? The whole country has these headlines, and protests. I will not sign the register. This is Gandhiji’s way that he started in South Africa. Tab angrez shuru kar rahe the. Ab ye kale angrez shuruat karat hai (The Britishers had then started it. Now the dark-skinned Britishers are starting it),” Baghel added.
The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister further said that the BJP policies are only to mislead people, to instigate people, to set fire, to cut and divide.
“It is a big challenge for the country. Today the country is burning. In different states there are fires burning, there is violence. There is misbehaviour with students, there is assault on them. There is murder, arson. They are creating an environment of fear in the country. Their only objective is to stay in power,” he said.
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