Rajasthan Becomes First State to Pass Resolution Against Amended Citizenship Act, NRC and NPR

New Delhi: Rajasthan on Saturday became the first state to pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the proposed pan-India implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the National Population Register (NPR) after the Congress-ruled government pledged in the Assembly to not support the controversial legislations.

Rajasthan also became the second Congress-ruled state, after Punjab, and the third overall, to pass an anti-CAA resolution, and the decision drew sharp reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with several saffron party leaders rushing to the well of the House and raising slogans. They accused the Congress of pursuing appeasement politics.

Earlier, the Kerala had passed an anti-CAA resolution.

The Rajasthan Assembly passed by voice vote the resolution which also asked the Centre to withdraw the new fields of information that have been sought for updation in the 2020 NPR.

"It is evident that the CAA violates the provisions of the Constitution. Therefore, the House resolves to urge upon the government of India to repeal the CAA to avoid any discrimination on the basis of religion in granting citizenship and to ensure equality before law for all religious groups of India," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal said while moving the resolution in the House.

Leader of Opposition Gulab Chand Kataria questioned the right to challenge the Act in the state assembly.

"Granting citizenship is a matter under the Centre and and in such a situation do we have the right to challenge the CAA.... The Congress should stop doing appeasement and vote bank politics," the BJP leader said.

The move comes even as the Union Home Ministry had categorically said state governments have no powers to reject the implementation of the Act as the legislation was enacted under the Union List of the 7th Schedule of the Constitution.

Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot had on Thursday said the Centre should listen to people protesting against the Act across the country, asserting that democracy weakens if there is no dialogue.

"We are requesting the central government to reconsider the act. The Constitution has given the right to protest but if someone does it, they are attacked and called anti-nationals," Pilot, who is also the chief of Pradesh Congress Committee, had said.

(With inputs from PTI)